HCV Genetic Elements Determining the Early Response to Peginterferon and Ribavirin Therapy

The aim of this study was to search hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic elements determining the early response to peginterferon/ribavirin therapy using HCV genome-wide analysis. From a total of 88 chronic hepatitis C patients with HCV-1b treated with peginterferon/ribavirin, the whole HCV amino acid sequence was determined and analyzed according to the viral response during the treatment. Mutations in NS5A-ISDR (interferon sensitivity-determining region) are associated with rapid viral response at week 4, and the core arginine70glutamine (R70Q) mutation is associated with no early viral response at week 12, revealing that core 70 and NS5A are the most important factors determining the virological kinetics during peginterferon and ribavirin therapy.