Abstract
Serum IgG1 levels are selectively increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In 15 patients who received interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy, serum levels of immunoglobulin classes and IgG subclasses were measured during treatment and after it was discontinued. In spite of important individual variations, mean IgG, IgG1, IgA and IgM levels decreased during therapy and tended to return to pre-treatment levels afterwards, with no detectable correlation with clinical and biological parameters. These results suggest an effect of IFN-alpha on in vivo immunoglobulin production, in HCV carriers.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Alanine Transaminase / blood
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Biomarkers
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Genotype
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Hepacivirus / genetics
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Hepatitis C / blood
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Hepatitis C / immunology*
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Hepatitis C / therapy
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Hepatitis C / virology
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Hepatitis, Chronic / blood
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Hepatitis, Chronic / immunology*
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Hepatitis, Chronic / therapy
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Hepatitis, Chronic / virology
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin A / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / blood*
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Immunoglobulin G / classification
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Immunoglobulin M / blood
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Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
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Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
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Male
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Middle Aged
Substances
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Biomarkers
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Immunoglobulin A
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunoglobulin M
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Immunologic Factors
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Interferon-alpha
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Alanine Transaminase