Biomedical subjects

Nagano Interferon Treatment Research Group

Publications and source records attributed to Nagano Interferon Treatment Research Group.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Anti-Helicobacter pylori seropositivity: influence on severity and treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

We sought to clarify the incidence and role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seropositivity in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the effect of coinfection on interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy. The presence of H. pylori was tested using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay in serum samples from 93 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Clinical features, HCV markers and response of HCV to interferon-alpha and ribavirin were compared between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients. Anti-H. pylori antibody was detected in 45 (48%) of the 93 patients, whose median HCV-RNA level (495 vs 760 kIU/mL; P = 0.013) and platelet count (128 vs 158 x 10(3)/microL; P = 0.009) were significantly lower than in patients with HCV infection alone. Anti-H. pylori antibody levels were found to be significantly correlated with fibrosis score (P = 0.0083, r = 0.33) but inversely related to platelet count (P = 0.0037, r = -0.34). The sustained response rate for HCV clearance following interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment did not differ between patients with and without anti-H. pylori seropositivity. The presence of H. pylori [odds ratio (OR) 8.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59-46.70] and fibrosis score (OR 30.13; 95% CI 5.44-166.78) were found by multivariate analysis to be associated with the decrease of platelet count during therapy. Coexistent H. pylori infection does not demonstrably influence the clinical course of chronic hepatitis C. A possible connection between H. pylori coinfection and thrombocytopenia was found during the treatment course, suggesting that preemptive eradication of H. pylori may facilitate completion of treatment and increased sustained virological response.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Types of human leukocyte antigen and decrease in HCV core antigen in serum for predicting efficacy of interferon-Alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C: analysis by a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the influence of host factors, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA), and viral factors, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen, on the response to interferon (IFN)-Alpha. METHODS: Natural IFN-Alpha was given to 66 patients with chronic hepatitis C at a dose of 9 million units per day for 2 weeks, followed by 9 million units three times a week for 22 weeks. RESULTS: Sustained virological response without detectable HCV RNA in serum 24 weeks after the end of IFN therapy was achieved in 21 patients, while it was not in 32 patients; the remaining 13 patients were not evaluated. HCV core antigen and HCV RNA started to decrease 1 and 4 weeks, respectively, after the commencement of IFN in responders ( P = 0.02 and P = 0.05, respectively). On univariate analysis, age of 50 years or less ( P < 0.001); lack of HLA DR6 ( P = 0.018) or DR52 ( P < 0.041); platelets more than 14 x 10(4)/mm(3) ( P = 0.031); HCV core antigen 500 fmol/l or less ( P = 0.001); and HCV RNA 100 KIU/ml or less were predictive of response. On multivariate analysis, age 50 years or less (odds ratio [OR], 4.009; P = 0.039); lack of HLA DR6 (OR, 8.130; P = 0.027); IFN-naive (OR, 11.63; P = 0.016); HCV core antigen 500 fmol/l or less (OR, 10.61; P = 0.007); and genotypes other than 1b (OR, 8.929; P = 0.010) were predictive of response. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of HLA DR6 determined the response to IFN. HCV core antigen was useful in predicting and monitoring the response to IFN.

Adult↗