To further explore mechanisms of IFN-α-induced depression and establish associated genetic risk factors, single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding proteins previously implicated in IFN-α-induced depression were explored in two self-reported ethnic groups, Caucasians (n=800) and African Americans (n=232), participating in a clinical trial on the impact of three pegylated IFN-α treatment regimens on sustained viral response in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Before treatment, all subjects were free of psychotropic medications and had a score ≤20 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), which was used to assess depressive symptom severity throughout the study.
This study was conducted to clarify the impact of drug exposure to Peg-IFN on the timing of HCV RNA negativity in Peg-IFN plus ribavirin combination therapy for CH-C patients with genotype 1.
It can be concluded that SNP in the promoter region of OPN at nt -443 and serum OPN protein level are predictors of response to the efficacy of peg-IFN-α2b-ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Until recently, chronic hepatitis C caused by persistent infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been treated with a combination of pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFNα) and ribavirin (RBV).
These results demonstrate that the genotypes rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT were more frequently observed in Korean patients compared to other ethnicities, and suggest that the genetic characteristics of patients may be prognostic factor that predicts antiviral response to PEG-IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
We also discuss the recent discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the human IFN-λ3 gene, IL28B, that correlate strongly with the ability to achieve a sustained virological response to therapy with pegylated IFN-α plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Substitutions in the IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) and at position 70 of the HCV core region (Core70) were determined in 505 patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C treated with PEG-IFN plus RBV.
ME3738 inhibited HCV replication, enhancing the effect of IFN-α to increase ISG expression both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that the combination of ME3738 and IFN might be useful therapeutically for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Using microarray, we quantified the expression profile of 237 IFN related genes in 87 CH liver biopsy specimens to clarify the relationship between IFN pathway and viral elimination, and to predict patients' clinical outcome.
Monitoring HCV RNA by a highly sensitive assay (LOD ≤ 15 IU/ml) is the basis for management of response guided therapy of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated IFN plus ribavirin.
Within the next few months, licensing of two HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir and telaprevir) for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C as part of a triple therapy with PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin is anticipated in the USA, Europe and many other countries.
The aim of the study was to assess the clinical impact on sustained virological response of adjuvant therapies during combination therapy with Peg-IFN and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. A total of 132 patients, 96 males, were included in the study.
Therapy with PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus RBV in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C offers favorable efficacy, reduced injection frequency, and an acceptable safety profile.
Here, we describe SVR in a 67-year-old woman whose PEG-IFN/RBV combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load of serum HCV RNA, genotype 1b, was discontinued after 16 weeks because of the onset of PEG-IFN plus RBV-induced acute pancreatitis.
Thus, maintaining the Peg-IFN dose as high as possible during the first 12 weeks can yield HCV RNA negativity and higher c-EVR rates, leading to better SVR rates in patients with CH-C genotype 1.
Early and accurate prediction of Peg-IFNs/ribavirin therapy outcome in the individual patient with chronic hepatitis C by modeling the dynamics of the infected cells.
Lower-than-standard dose peg-IFN alfa-2a for chronic hepatitis C caused by genotype 2 and 3 is sufficient when given in combination with weight-based ribavirin.