Long-term follow-up of interferon-treated chronic hepatitis C and serum hepatic fibrosis markers

Background/Aims: We investigated the clinical application of serum fibrosis markers in a long-term follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis C trea ted with interferon-alpha. Methodology: This study included 52 patients treated with interferon-alpha (total: 480MU) for 6 months. They each underwent liver biopsy before and af ter treatment. Twenty-eight patients who underwent liver biopsy less than 2 years after treatment were classified as group 1, and 24 patients as group 2. The two groups were subdivided into HCV RNA-negative responders and HCV RNA-positive nonresponders. Liver specimens were estimated using grading a nd staging scores. Serum hyaluronan, PIIIP, and type IV collagen levels wer e measured before and after treatment. Results: In the responders of groups 1 and 2, grading score after treatment was significantly decreased compared with that before treatment. Staging s core after treatment was significantly improved only in the responders of g roup 2. In the responders of group 2, serum hyaluronan level was significan tly decreased compared with that before treatment. In group 2, the grading score was significantly correlated with serum PIIIP and type IV collagen le vels, and the staging score was significantly correlated with only serum. h yaluronan level. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the serum PIIIP and type IV colla gen levels reflect the activity, and serum hyaluronan reflects the degree o f fibrosis in liver specimens of HCV RNA-negative patients in a long-term f ollow-up of patients after interferon-alpha treatment.