Abstract

Interferon treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is expensive and has various adverse effects. Some markers may help in making decision to stop or maintain the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of serum transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) in assessing outcome of interferon treatment in patients with HCV infection. Twelve patients with chronic HCV infections included in the study as treatment group [Treatment group: anti-HCV (+), HCV RNA (+)] and 12 patients with anti-HCV positive, HCV-RNA negative and normal liver function tests included as control group. All patients in the treatment group were administered with peginterferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks. HCV-RNA levels were determined by realtime-PCR and TGF-β1 levels were measured with ELISA methods, at the beginning and 24th week of the treatment. Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Test were used to compare variables within and between groups. Median age and male/female ratios were 46 years and 5/7, and 45 years and 3/9 for treatment groups and control group, respectively. Although no difference was found in TGF-β1 levels at the beginning of the treatment between groups (p>0.05), significantly decreased TGF-β1 levels were observed following 24 weeks of interferon treatment in treatment group (p=0.015). Despite limited number of patients, our data suggested that, TGF-β1 levels may be used as a prognostic marker for effectiveness of interferon treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis C infection, transforming growth factor β1, pegylated interferon, ribavirin, prognostic marker.