Sequential changes of hepatitis C virus antibody profiles during treatment of chronic hepatitis C of genotype 1b: pretreatment antibody response to E2/NS1 correlated sustained response.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody profiles and response to therapy of chronic HCV infection of genotype 1b. Quantitative assays of antibody response to HCV antigens were performed sequentially using immunoblot confirmatory assays in 25 patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C who received a 24-week course of interferon and ribavirin therapy. 12 patients had a sustained response (group A), and 13 did not (group B). Serum titers of HCV RNA were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p = 0.02). Pretreatment antibody reactivity to core, NS3, NS4, and NS5 antigens did not differ significantly between the two groups, but group A had significantly higher titers of anti-E2/NS1 than group B (p = 0.04). Sustained response was noted in none of seven patients with HCV RNA > 10(6) copies/ml, but did occur in 12 of 18 patients with HCV RNA < 10(6) copies/ml (p < 0.01). Among the latter, all seven patients with anti- E2/NS1 had sustained responses, as did five (45%) of 11 without (p = 0.04). Antibody profiles changed little or not at all at the end of treatment or at 6 months after treatment in both groups. In chronic hepatitis C of genotype 1b, patients with HCV RNA > 10(6) copies/ml respond poorly to therapy compared to those with HCV RNA < 10(6) copies/ml. Among the latter, the presence of pretreatment anti-E2/NS1 correlated with sustained response. Quantitative assay of antibody response to HCV antigens at the end of treatment had no additional value to predict a sustained response.