Efficacy and changes of the nonstructural 5A gene by prolonged interferon therapy for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and a high level ofserum HCV-RNA

Object: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and the changes o f amino acid sequences of the interferon sensitivity-determining region (IS DR) by prolonged interferon (IFN) treatment in patients who have serum hepa titis C virus (HCV)-genotype 1b and a high level of serum HCV-RNA, Methods: Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, positive HCV-RNA, and an abnormal serum aminotransferase level. Twenty-five patients receive d 6 MU of natural IFN-alpha daily for 8 weeks, followed by three times week ly for 40 weeks (1,056 MU). One patient was withdrawn from the study due to IFN side effects, Therefore, the remaining 24 patients (group 1) were stud ied the efficacy of IFN administration and changes of ISDR, As a control, 2 2 patients (group 2) treated with natural IFN-alpha for 24 weeks for the sa me period were studied retrospectively. Patients were defined as complete r esponders (CR) if serum HCV-RNA levels were negative for 6 months after IFN therapy. Results: According to this criterion, CR was 25% (6/24) in group 1 and 9.1% (2/22) in group 2, The normalization rates of alanine aminotrans ferease (ALT) for six months after termination of IFN was 41% (10/24) in gr oup 1 and 18.2% (4/22) in group 2, Regarding the changes of ISDR in patient s with no CR, the change rates of ISDR were 16.7% (3/18) in group 1 and 10% (2/20) in group 2, Conclusion: We concluded that prolonged IFN therapy was effective for patients with HCV-genotype 1b and a high level of serum HCV- RNA.