Development and specificities of anti-interferon neutralizing antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α.
Clin Microbiol Infect
; 18(10): 1033-9, 2012 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22192406
ABSTRACT
Only limited data are available on the development of neutralizing antibodies (NAB) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α). The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of PEG-IFN-α when administered to CHC patients who had or had not previously received standard IFN-α therapy. In addition, the specificities of NAB, together with the ability of leucocyte (LE) -IFN-α to re-establish therapeutic responsiveness in NAB-positive patients, were evaluated. NAB were assessed using a quantitative, standardized, virus-induced cytopathic effect assay. The seroconversion rate to PEG-IFN-α was higher in patients who had received previous standard IFN-α treatment than in those treated exclusively with PEG-IFN-α. Also, NAB produced during PEG-IFN-α therapy were unable to neutralize LE-IFN-α entirely, even though they can neutralize several IFN-α subtypes. In addition, the results indicate that a change to LE-IFN-α therapy can be associated with restoration of clinical responses in NAB-positive patients who had become resistant after showing an initial response to PEG-IFN-α treatment. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating NAB development in CHC patients who become resistant to PEG-IFN-α treatment, and suggests management alternatives for patients who develop NAB.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polyethylene Glycols
/
Interferon-alpha
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Microbiol Infect
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
MICROBIOLOGIA
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM