Abstract
Objective : Assess the value of baseline interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels as a noninvasive maker of liver fibrosis and as a predictor of response to interferon therapy in HCV genotype 4 infected patients.
Methods : Eighty-four HCV genotype 4 infected patients were enrolled in this study. Degrees of liver fibrosis were determined and baseline IP-10 was measured in serum samples collected prior to initiation of treatment using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were followed up for 1.5 year to assess their response to antiviral therapy.
Results : The baseline IP-10 levels were significantly correlated with the degree of fibrosis and had the ability to differentiate between patients with mild, moderate and advanced stages of fibrosis (F0-1 : 95.24 +/- 33.08 pg/ml, n = 25; F2 : 158.70 +/- 52.74 pg/ml, n = 37; F3-4 : 357.45 +/- 162.18 pg/ml, n = 22; P < 0.001). Baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients achieved Early virological response (responders 134.80 +/- 60.47 pg/ml, n = 60; non-responders 334.54 +/- 168.94 pg/ml, n = 24, P < 0.001). Also baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients who became HCV RNA negative at 24 weeks of therapy (179.52 +/- 130.03 pg/ml, n = 78) than non-responders (352.33 +/- 132.58 pg/ml, n = 6, P = 0.002). SVR was achieved in 58/68 (85.3%) patients while 10 patients were relapsed. Baseline IP-10 levels differs significantly between patients who achieved SVR at week 24 post therapy and relapsed patients (IP10 level : SVR, 173.52 +/- 125.20 pg/ml, n = 58; Relapsed, 216.20 +/- 67.72 pg/ml, n = 10, P = 0.021).
Conclusion : Baseline IP-10 level independently predicts EVR, response at week 24 during therapy and SVR. It also differentiates patients with mild fibrosis from those with moderate and advanced fibrosis.