Abstract
The serum levels of soluble β2-μ-associated and β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains were determined in 28 interferon-α nonresponder chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with interferon-α plus ribavirin and in 70 healthy subjects. The baseline levels of β2-μ-associated and β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.001). The levels of β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains significantly increased in responder patients with respect to nonresponders at the third month of treatment (P = 0.03). At the sixth month of treatment and after 6 months of follow up the levels of β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains decreased in responder patients and increased in nonresponders. The levels of β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains showed only minor changes during and after treatment. We suggest that the determination of hepatitis C virus RNA levels combined with soluble β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains, as a marker of immune activation, could identify interferon-α non responder chronic hepatitis C patients most likely to respond to a retreatment with interferon-α plus ribavirin.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 486-489 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C virus RNA
- Interferon-α
- Ribavirin
- Soluble HLA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology