K. Yasui et al., DYNAMICS OF HEPATITIS-C VIREMIA FOLLOWING INTERFERON-ALPHA ADMINISTRATION, The Journal of infectious diseases, 177(6), 1998, pp. 1475-1479
Knowledge of the dynamics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in vivo is import
ant for elucidation of its pathogenesis and the establishment of thera
peutic guidelines. The aim of this study was to obtain kinetic informa
tion about virus load following interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) administr
ation. Serial serum HCV core protein and HCV RNA levels were measured.
IFN-alpha exponentially reduced serum HCV levels. The mean (+/-SD) vi
ral half-life was 7.0 +/- 2.6 h in HCV core protein assay and 7.2 +/-
3.1 h in HCV RNA assay on the first day of therapy, This initial rapid
decrease was followed by a slower decrease in serum HCV levels therea
fter, Thus, the biphasic reduction in virus load during IFN-alpha ther
apy was demonstrated.