Sequential changes of hepatitis C virus antibody profiles during treatment of chronic hepatitis C of genotype 1b: pretreatment antibody response to E2/NS1 correlated sustained response

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody profiles and response to therapy of chronic HCV infection of genotype 1b.

Materials and methods: Quantitative assays of antibody response to HCV antigens were performed sequentially using immunoblot confirmatory assays in 25 patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C who received a 24-week course of interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Results: 12 patients had a sustained response (group A), and 13 did not (group B). Serum titers of HCV RNA were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p = 0.02). Pretreatment antibody reactivity to core, NS3, NS4, and NS5 antigens did not differ significantly between the two groups, but group A had significantly higher titers of anti-E2/NS1 than group B (p = 0.04). Sustained response was noted in none of seven patients with HCV RNA > 10(6) copies/ml, but did occur in 12 of 18 patients with HCV RNA < 10(6) copies/ml (p < 0.01). Among the latter, all seven patients with anti- E2/NS1 had sustained responses, as did five (45%) of 11 without (p = 0.04). Antibody profiles changed little or not at all at the end of treatment or at 6 months after treatment in both groups.

Conclusion: In chronic hepatitis C of genotype 1b, patients with HCV RNA > 10(6) copies/ml respond poorly to therapy compared to those with HCV RNA < 10(6) copies/ml. Among the latter, the presence of pretreatment anti-E2/NS1 correlated with sustained response. Quantitative assay of antibody response to HCV antigens at the end of treatment had no additional value to predict a sustained response.