Author/Authors :
Jian, W Anhui University of Science and Technology - Medical College - Department of Aetiology and Immunology, China , Pingping, W Anhui University of Science and Technology - Medical College - Department of Aetiology and Immunology, China , Guiju, X the Second Miner Hospital of Huainan - Department of Infectious Diseases, China
Abstract :
Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is treated with alpha interferon (IFN-a). The mechanisms by which IFN-a suppresses HCV replication are not well-known; only limited benefits are achieved with the therapy because the virus in turn, directs some mechanisms to resist the host IFN-a response. The present study was undertaken to determine the therapeutic effects of IFN-a 2b and to measure the serum level of antibody against IFN-a 2b (anti-IFN-a 2b) after treatment with IFN-a 2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C..Methods: The levels of HCV antibody (anti-HCV), HCV-RNA and anti-IFN-a 2b immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum of 94 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with IFN-a 2b (three 3-MU injections per week for 3 months), were measured in different courses of treatment..Results: The total negative rates for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA were 33% (31/94) and 38% (36/94) in patients treated with IFN-a 2b, respectively. The rates for those treated with routine medications were 10% (4/40), 15% (6/40), respectively (P 0.01). After the first, second and third course of treatment with IFN-a 2b, the negative rates of anti-HCV, HCV-RNA in serum were 0% (0/94), 15% (14/94) and 21% (20/94), 23% (22/94) and 33% (31/94), 38% (36/94), respectively. After the treatment with IFN-a 2b, the total positive rate of anti-IFN-a 2b IgG was 5% (5/94). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (P 0.05). Among them, after treatment with IFN-a 2b for three, six and 12 months, the positive rates of anti-IFN-a 2b IgG were 0% (0/94), 2% (2/94), 5% (5/94), respectively. The productive ability of anti-IFN-a2b IgG was similar during the different courses of treatment with IFN-a 2b (P 0.05)..Conclusions: IFN-a 2b has curative effect for patients with chronic hepatitis C and its therapeutic efficacy is better than that of routine treatments. Although IFN-a 2b has certain antigenicity, anti-IFN-a 2b IgG production is seen in only a few of patients during the course of treatment; the restrain effect of anti-IFN-a 2b IgG on the further treatment with IFN-a 2b is weak.
Keywords :
Interferon , a 2b , Anti , IFN , a 2b , Hepatitis C , Treatment
