Changes in gene expression during pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy of chronic hepatitis C virus distinguish responders from nonresponders to antiviral therapy.

ABSTRACT: Treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin leads to sustained clearance of virus and clinical improvement in approximately 50% of patients. Response rates are lower among patients with genotype 1 than with genotypes 2 and 3 and among African-American (AA) patients compared to Caucasian (CA) patients. Using DNA microarrays, gene expression was assessed for a group of 33 African-American and 36 Caucasian American patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection during the first 28 days of treatment. Results were examined with respect to treatment responses and to race. Patients showed a response to treatment at the gene expression level in RNA isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells irrespective of degree of decrease in HCV RNA le

SUBMITTER: Taylor MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1866036 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature