[Association between raised IL-8 serum levels and resistance to combined peg-interferon plus ribavirin therapy in HCV+ active chronic hepatitis]

Infez Med. 2008 Jun;16(2):80-5.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

IL-8 serum levels were measured in a group of 44 patients affected with Chronic Active Hepatitis (CAH) HCV+ at the beginning and end of peg-interferon plus ribavirin combined therapy. IL-8 levels were compared with those measured in a group of healthy controls. The patients were treated for 12 months, and then followed up for 6 months after the end of the therapy. IL-8 serum levels were detected by ELISA at the beginning and end of the therapy, and then at the end of the follow-up. IL-8 serum levels were significantly more elevated (p<0.01) in CAH HCV+ patients than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, IL-8 serum levels in those patients who subsequently showed a sustained virological response to the therapy, declined on treatment and maintained lower levels than in those who did not respond to therapy. Serum IL-8 can be considered and proposed as a non-invasive and predictive marker of response to combined PEG IFN alpha2b + Ribavirin in CAH HCV +.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Biomarkers
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Drug Resistance
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Interleukin-8 / blood*
  • Male
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukin-8
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b