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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Actins, Antiviral Agents, Chronic Disease, DNA Primers, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Humans, Injections, Intramuscular, Interferon alpha-2, Interferon-alpha, Liver, Male, Middle Aged, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Predictive Value of Tests, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Viral, Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta, Receptors, Interferon, Recombinant Proteins, Treatment Outcome.
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Is effectiveness of interferon-alpha therapy in chronic hepatitis C associated with the amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA in the liver? Context: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between interferon-alpha receptor mRNA in the liver and the response to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C. Interferon-alpha receptor mRNA was quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using liver biopsies from 40 patients, comprising 20 responders and 20 non-responders to subsequent interferon therapy. The amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA was significantly larger in interferon-responders (0.72+/-0.12) than non-responders (0.26+/-0.08) (p<0.01). Regardless of the response to interferon, histological activity index scores and the amount of HCV-RNA showed significant inverse correlation to the amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA, whereas the HCV-RNA genotype was not associated with the amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA. Logistic analysis and multiple regression analysis showed that the amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA was significantly associated with the efficacy of interferon (p=0.0275), but not with fibrosis of the liver (p= 0.2726).
assistant
Our results suggest that the amount of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA is an important factor determining the response to interferon, and may be a new predictor of interferon response in chronic hepatitis C. Final Decision: yes