Effect of ribavirin on viral kinetics and liver gene expression in chronic hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Ribavirin improves treatment response to pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) in chronic hepatitis C but the mechanism remains controversial. We studied correlates of response and mechanism of action of ribavirin in treatment of hepatitis C.

Design

70 treatment-naive patients were randomised to 4 weeks of ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) or none, followed by PEG-IFNα-2a and ribavirin at standard doses and durations. Patients were also randomised to a liver biopsy 24 h before or 6 h after starting PEG-IFN. Hepatic gene expression was assessed by microarray and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression quantified by nCounter platform. Temporal changes in ISG expression were assessed by qPCR in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and by serum levels of IP-10.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Rotman Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3778097 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature