Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2004; 10(24): 3639-3642
Published online Dec 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i24.3639
Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and soluble adhesion molecules as possible prognostic markers of the efficacy of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C
Anatol Panasiuk, Danuta Prokopowicz, Bozena Panasiuk
Anatol Panasiuk, Danuta Prokopowicz, Bozena Panasiuk, Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Bialystok, Zurawia Str., 14, Poland
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Anatol Panasiuk, Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Bialystok, Zurawia Str., 14, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Telephone: +4885-7416-921 Fax: +4885-7416-921
Received: February 20, 2004
Revised: April 2, 2004
Accepted: April 9, 2004
Published online: December 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To explain the role of Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and soluble adhesion molecules in chronic hepatitis C during the treatment of interferon alpha (IFNα ) 2 b and ribavirin (RBV).

METHODS: Concentrations of MCP-1, soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), sP-selectin, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL10 in serum were estimated in the group of 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFNalpha2 b and RBV in 0, 16, 32, 48 wk of the therapy.

RESULTS: In chronic hepatitis C, before and during the treatment, the serum levels of MCP-1 and sP-selectin in responders were similar to those of healthy subjects. In non-responders (NR), MCP-1 increased in the course of IFNα + RBV treatment, differences were statistically significant as compared to responders. MCP-1 correlated statistically with the activity of periportal inflammation (r = 0.35, P < 0.05) but not with staging of liver fibrosis. sICAM-1 positively correlated with inflammatory activity and fibrosis in NR. sP-selectin did not correlate with histological findings in the liver. The MCP-1 correlated with the soluble form of sP-selectin concentrations (r = 6, P < 0.001) and with IL-10 level in NR (r = 0.4, P < 0.05). There was no correlation observed between the concentration of MCP-1 and sICAM-1, IL-6 during the treatment.

CONCLUSION: MCP-1 concentration may be a prognostic marker of the efficacy of IFN + RBV therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

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