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- Title
Prediction of relapse after interferon therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients by the use of triple assay.
- Authors
EL-AWADY, MOSTAFA K; ABDEL RAHMAN, MOHAMED M; ISMAIL, SOMAYIA M; AMR, KHALDA S; OMRAN, MOATAZA; MOHAMED, SABRY A
- Abstract
Abstract Background and Methods: In recent years, several tests have been used as predictive factors for relapse after the end of interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C carriers. Serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA has proved insensitive for predicting relapse because more than 50% of patients with undetectable reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) levels of HCV at the end of therapy become positive for viral RNA after interferon withdrawal. The detection of a minus RNA strand of HCV in liver also failed to efficiently predict relapses in chronic hepatitis patients. Furthermore, the use of a whole blood assay of HCV-RNA has been controversial. We used a triple assay comprised of RT-PCR tests for the detection of HCV-RNA plus strand in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), together with testing for the minus strand in PBMC for prediction of relapse after interferon + ribavirin combination therapy in 45 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Results: The only four patients with a negative triple assay had no relapse 1 year after the end of therapy. In contrast, two-thirds of the 12 patients who tested negative for viral RNA in serum at the end of therapy relapsed 1 year later. Conclusion: We concluded that the absence of both minus and plus strands in patients who tested negative for serum PCR may indicate the total eradication of HCV. © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
- Subjects
DISEASE relapse; HEPATITIS C treatment; INTERFERONS
- Publication
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2003, Vol 18, Issue 1, p68
- ISSN
0815-9319
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1440-1746.2003.02919.x