Abstract
Patients with chronic hepatitis C with high serum levels of HCV RNA are less likely to show a complete response to IFN therapy than those with a low serum levels of HCV RNA. The characteristics of patients with high serum levels of HCV RNA who show a complete response to IFN therapy have not been evaluated in detail. We retrospectively analyzed the 121 patients with high serum levels of HCV RNA (≥ 1.0 Meq/ml) before IFN therapy to determine the characteristics of complete responders. A complete response to IFN was observed in 12 (9.9%) of 121 patients. There was no difference between complete responders and non-responders in age, the result of liver function tests, or liver histology. In all complete responders, pretreatment serum level of HCV RNA was less than 5.0 Meq/ml, which was significantly lower than the level in the non-responders (P < 0.01). The fluctuation of HCV RNA level less than 0.5 Meq/ml was observed in ten of the 12 complete responders. The frequency of serotype 2 was significantly higher in the complete responders compared with the non-responders (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that complete responders are rare among patients with serum levels of HCV RNA ≥5.0 Meq/ml. In planning IFN therapy, fluctuations in the HCV RNA level, as well as the serotype, should be considered.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
