USEFULNESS OF HCV-RNA ASSAYS IN EFFICACY EVALUATION OF INTERFERON TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C - AMPLICOR(TM) HCV ASSAY AND BRANCHED DNA-PROBE ASSAY

We investigated the usefulness of Amplicor(TM) HCV assay and branched DNA probe assay in efficacy evaluation of interferon therapies for chr onic hepatitis C. Subjects were 164 HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis C patients who received interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha, HLBI) 3-6 MU per day for 14-24 weeks. Their HCV-RNA levels were examined five times by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, Amplicor(TM) HCV assay, and branched DNA probe assay. Complete respon se rate in the low virus level patients was significantly higher than in the high virus level patients (P<0.001). In complete responders, th e rate of HCV-RNA disappearance 2 weeks after the initiation of IFN th erapy was higher than in non-responders (P<0.001). The HCV-RNA positiv e rates in RT-PCR assay and Amplicor(TM) HCV assay agreed by 98% or mo re. The HCV-RNA negative patients 6 months later were still negative 1 2 months later by Amplicor(TM) HCV assay Before starting interferon th erapy for chronic hepatitis C, it is advisable to make a prediction of treatment efficacy by using branched DNA probe assay In addition, dis appearance of HCV-RNA after 2 weeks of treatment could be a useful pre dictor of the therapeutic efficacy of IFN. Amplicor(TM) HCV assay is u seful in detecting HCV-RNA and for efficacy evaluation during and afte r a given interferon therapy.