Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus RNA after Alpha-Interferon Therapy
Authors: Raffaella Romeo
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Brief Communications15 August 1994Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus RNA after Alpha-Interferon TherapyRaffaella Romeo, MD, Stanislas Pol, MD, PhD, Pierre Berthelot, MD, and Christian Brechot, MD, PhDRaffaella Romeo, MDFrom the University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.Search for more papers by this author, Stanislas Pol, MD, PhDFrom the University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.Search for more papers by this author, Pierre Berthelot, MDFrom the University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.Search for more papers by this author, and Christian Brechot, MD, PhDFrom the University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-121-4-199408150-00008 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis developing after transfusion [1]; many patients (50% to 60%) become chronic carriers, of whom as many as 20% develop cirrhosis. In approximately 25% of patients, referred to as long-term responders, α-interferon therapy can lead to a sustained and complete normalization of aminotransferase activity. The remaining patients either do not respond or relapse during or shortly after treatment [2].Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the new branched-DNA method for detecting HCV RNA have greatly facilitated the assessment of specific treatment efficacy [3]. These techniques can be used to ...References1. Alter HJ, Purcell RH, Shih JW, Melpolder JC, Houghton M, Choo QL, et al. Detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus in prospectively followed transfusion recipients with acute and chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. N Engl J Med. 1989; 321:1494-500. Google Scholar2. Davis GL, Balart LA, Schiff ER, Lindsay K, Bodenheimer HC Jr, Perrillo RP, et al. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa. A multicenter randomized, controlled trial. Hepatitis Interventional Therapy Group. N Engl J Med. 1989; 321:1501-6. Google Scholar3. Lau JY, Davis GL, Kniffen J, Qian KP, Urdea MS, Chan CS, et al. Significance of serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels in chronic hepatitis C. Lancet. 1993; 341:1501-4. Google Scholar4. Romeo R, Thiers V, Driss F, Berthelot P, Nalpas B, Brechot C. Hepatitis C virus RNA in serum of blood donors with or without elevated transaminase levels. Transfusion. 1993; 33:629-33. Google Scholar5. Zaaijer HL, Cuypers HT, Reesink HW, Winkel IN, Gerken G, Lelie PN. Reliability of polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus. Lancet. 1993; 341:722-4. Google Scholar6. Okomato H, Sugiuama Y, Okada SI, Kurai K, Akahane Y, Sugai Y, et al. Typing hepatitis C virus by polymerase chain reaction with type-specific primers: application to clinical surveys and testing infectious sources. J Gen Virol. 1992; 73:673-9. Google Scholar7. Gil B, Qian C, Riezu-Boj JI, Civeira MP, Prieto J. Hepatic and extrehepatic HCV RNA strands in chronic hepatitis C: different patterns of response to interferon treatment. Hepatology. 1993; 18:1050-4. Google Scholar8. Nousbaum JB, Pol S, Gigou M, Okamoto H, Feray C, Poussin K, et al. HCV genotype II is associated to liver cirrhosis, cancer and low response to interferon α in European patients (Abstract). Hepatology. 1993; 18:88A. Google Scholar9. Brouwer JT, Nevens F, Kleter GE, Elewaut A, Adler M, Brenard R, et al. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C: efficacy of interferon dose and analysis of factors predictive of response. Interim report of 350 patients treated in a Benelux multicenter study (Abstract). Hepatology. 1993; 18:110A. Google Scholar10. Alberti A, Morsica G, Chemello L, Cavalletto D, Noventa F, Pontisso P, et al. Hepatitis C viraemia and liver disease in symptom-free individuals with anti-HCV. Lancet. 1992; 340:697-8. Google Scholar11. Brillanti S, Foli M, Gaiani S, Masci C, Miglioli M, Barbara L. Persistent hepatitis C viraemia without liver disease. Lancet. 1993; 341:464-5. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Raffaella Romeo, MD; Stanislas Pol, MD, PhD; Pierre Berthelot, MD; Christian Brechot, MD, PhDAffiliations: From the University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.Corresponding Author: Raffaella Romeo, MD, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, via Pace, 9-20122 Milan, Italy.Grant Support: By Institut National de la Sante et Recherche Medicale, Caisse National Assurance Maladie, Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer, and the European Community. Dr. Romeo is the recipient of a fellowship from Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy. 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Results of a multicentre, randomised trial.MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA SECONDARY TO HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTIONUtility of hepatitis C virus RNA determinations in hepatic tissue as an end point for interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis CQuantitative molecular methods in virologyEfficacy and tolerance of α-2b interferon therapy on HCV infection of hemodialyzed patientsTwo-year biochemical, virological, and histological follow-up in patients with chronic hepatitis C responding in a sustained fashion to interferon alfa-2b treatmentHepatitis C virus RNA and long-term response to recombinant interferon-α2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C 15 August 1994Volume 121, Issue 4Page: 276-277KeywordsAminotransferasesBiopsyBlood cellsCellsChronic hepatitisHepatitis C virusLiverPolymerase chain reactionRNASpecimen preparation and treatment ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 August 1994 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1994 by American College of Physicians. 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