Pegylated interferon α therapy in acute hepatitis C: Relation to hepatitis C virus-specific T cell response kinetics

Kamal, S.M.; Ismail, A.; Graham, C. S.; Hi, Q.; Rasenack, J. W.; Peter, T.; Tawil A.; Fehr, J. J.; Khalifa K. E.; Madwar, M. M.; Koziel M.;

Abstract


Pegylated interferon α (PEG IFN-α) improves sustained virological response rates in chronic hepatitis C, but neither its role in acute hepatitis C nor the biologic basis for its action has been defined. This prospective study assessed the efficacy of PEG IFN-α treatment in acute hepatitis C in relation to the kinetics of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4+T cell responses during therapy and follow-up. Forty subjects with proven acute hepatitis C who received either PEG IFN-α plus ribavirin (n = 20) or PEG IFN-α monotherapy (n = 20) for 24 weeks in addition to 14 untreated subjects with acute hepatitis C were prospectively followed. Serum HCV RNA, HCV-specific CD4+T cell responses, and cytokine production were measured before and during therapy and at follow-up and correlated to the outcome. The sustained virological response rate was 85% with PEG IFN-α/ribavirin combination and 80% with PEG IFN-α monotherapy. Five untreated subjects had spontaneous recovery. The frequency, magnitude, and breadth of HCV-specific CD4+T helper 1 responses were significantly higher in treated subjects compared with untreated subjects with self-limited disease or subjects with chronic evolution. The CD4+T cell responses were maintained in subjects with sustained virological responses and self-limited disease but fluctuated in those who developed chronic infection. In conclusion, PEG IFN-α therapy in acute hepatitis induces high rates of sustained virological response and prevents choronicity, probably through efficient early stimulation of multispecific HCV-specific CD4+T helper 1 responses.


Other data

Title Pegylated interferon α therapy in acute hepatitis C: Relation to hepatitis C virus-specific T cell response kinetics
Authors Kamal, S.M. ; Ismail, A. ; Graham, C. S. ; Hi, Q. ; Rasenack, J. W. ; Peter, T. ; Tawil A. ; Fehr, J. J. ; Khalifa K. E. ; Madwar, M. M. ; Koziel M. 
Issue Date 1-Jun-2004
Journal Hepatology 
DOI 6
1721
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/2542577111
39
10.1002/hep.20266
PubMed ID 39
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-2542577111

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