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[Hepatitis C]
T Matsushima1, Y Karino, S Hige
1The 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido University School, Sapporo.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a leading cause of liver disease, shows specific genotype prevalence. Interferon therapy offers a complete response in 42.9% of patients with chronic active hepatitis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Hepatology
- Immunology
Context:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.
- HCV possesses a positive-strand RNA genome of approximately 9,400 nucleotides.
- The E2 envelope glycoprotein contains isolate-specific antibody-binding epitopes.
Purpose:
- To classify HCV genotypes and determine their prevalence.
- To evaluate the efficacy of interferon therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis C.
- To assess viral clearance rates following interferon treatment.
Summary:
- Comparative sequence analysis reveals six basic HCV genotype groups.
- HCV-I, HCV-II, and mixed forms show prevalences of 77.2%, 11.4%, and 11.4%, respectively.
- Interferon-alpha/beta treatment for 16 weeks resulted in a 42.9% complete response rate, defined by normalized ALT levels for six months post-treatment.
Impact:
- This study contributes to understanding HCV genotype distribution.
- It demonstrates the effectiveness of interferon therapy in managing chronic active hepatitis C.
- High rates of sustained virologic response (71.0% at six months post-treatment) highlight interferon's therapeutic potential.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of post transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis. The virus contains a positive-strand RNA genome comprised of approximately 9,400 nucleotides. HCV E2/NS1 is probably an envelope glycoprotein (E2). The E2 hypervariable domain appears to contain isolate-specific antibody-binding linear epitopes. Recently, comparative sequence analysis of all the complete and partial HCV sequences published to date indicates that known genotypes of HCV can be classified into six basic groups. We report here that the prevalence of HCV-I, HCV-II, and a mixed form are 77.2%, 11.4%, and 11.4%, respectively. Patients with anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive chronic active hepatitis received 6MU of interferon-alpha or beta everyday for two weeks followed by 6MU thrice a week for 14 weeks. Complete response to interferon treatment was defined as an ALT level normalized within six months after the end of treatment and maintained within the normal limit for an additional six months. Complete response was found in 42.9% of patients treated for 16 weeks. In a six month follow-up of the complete responders, clearance of viremia was observed in 90.3% at the end of interferon treatment and in 71.0% six months after the end of interferon treatment.