EFFECT OF INTERFERON THERAPY ON SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were determined monthly for 1 yea r in 30 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in fection before, during, and after recombinant interferon alfa-2b (IFN) therapy. On the basis of their response to therapy, as evaluated by s erum alanine aminotransferase levels, patients were classified as resp onders (10 patients), partial responders (10), and nonresponders (10). Ten healthy subjects comprised the control group. In patients with ch ronic HCV infection, baseline serum AFP levels (7.2 +/- 1.0 ng/mL, 5.2 +/- 0.4 ng/mL, and 6.2 +/- 0.7 ng/mL in responders, partial responder s, and nonresponders, respectively) were slightly but significantly hi gher than those recorded in healthy subjects (2.2 +/- 0.3 ng/mL). Furt hermore, IFN therapy caused a decrease in serum AFP levels that was mo re evident and prolonged in responders but that also occurred in parti al responders and nonresponders. However, in the latter groups, this r eduction in serum AFP levels was evident only during IFN therapy. Thes e data suggest that IFN therapy may affect AFP secretion, possibly thr oughout the improvement of hepatic necrosis and, consequently, of hepa tic regeneration.