Prospective study of interferon (IFN) therapy for compensated cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis, c by monitoring serum hepatitis of virus (HCV) RNA

Preliminary reports suggest that patients with interferon (IFN)-resistant chronic hepatitis C respond better to a combination of IFN-α and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs than to IFN alone. The efficacy of IFN combined with ketoprofen in the treatment of patients with IFN-resistant chronic hepatitis C was evaluated. Seventeen patients, nonresponsive after at least six months of treatment with IFN-α2b and subsequently treated with the combination of IFN-α2b plus ketoprofen for four months, were studied. Serum aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were analyzed before and throughout treatment. No patient normalized serum aminotransferases after combination therapy. There were no significant differences in mean serum ALT and AST levels before and after ketoprofen intervention. Serum HCV RNA became undetectable after treatment in only one patient, but was detectable again three months after treatment cessation. These results provide no convincing evidence that the combination of IFN-α2b with ketoprofen improves the response to IFN in patients nonresponsive to IFN alone.

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Quantification of Core Antigen Monitors Efficacy of Combination Therapy of Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir and Ribavirin in Egyptian Cirrhotic Patients with HCV Infection as an Alternative to PCR

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcaa052.038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

E H Nashaat ◽

H Abdel-azziz ◽

A I Mohammed ◽

A H Hassan

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Combination Therapy ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

Core Antigen ◽

Hcv Rna ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Hcv Core Antigen ◽

Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem throughout the world. Acute HCV infection is asymptomatic in most cases, and only 15% of cases are symptomatic,but Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) shows a variable clinical course, ranging from mild histopathological changes to active hepatitis and the development of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCC. The aim of this work is to detect accuracy of core antigen in Egyptian cirrhotic patients with HCV Infection treated with combination therapy of Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir and Ribavirin as an alternative to PCR. Patients and methods: The study included20 Egyptian treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis (Cirrhosis was diagnosed on ultrasound basis) on Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir and Ribavirin. Results Treatment with sofosbuvir plus Daclatasvir and Ribavirin for 12 weeks resulted in undetectable HCV RNA by PCR in 95% (19/20) of the patients at the end of treatment and only 5% (1/20) of the patients achieved SVR after 6 months not 3(both HCV RNA AND HCV Core Antigen tests were negative for all patients). Conclusion: In our study there was a correlation between HCV RNA and HCV core antigen results, so HCV core antigen can be used as an alternative marker to HCV RNA in treatment of HCV infected cirrhotic patients receiving Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir and Ribavirin.during treatment and for monitoring its efficacy.

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