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Slow viral dynamics of hepatitis C virus genotype 4
Author(s) -
Halfon P.,
Neumann A. U.,
Bourlière M.,
Rieu A.,
Chadapaud S.,
Khiri H.,
Ouzan D.,
Cacoub P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00433.x
Subject(s) - hepatitis c virus , ribavirin , genotype , virology , viral load , interferon , hepacivirus , virus , hepatitis c , medicine , immunology , biology , gene , genetics
Summary. Patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV‐4) respond to interferon alpha (IFN) as poorly as those infected with genotype 1. However, there is no information on the viral dynamics of HCV‐4. Interferon–ribavirin treatment was administered to untreated patients infected with HCV‐4. Viral load was assessed with Versant 3.0. Viral dynamics parameters were estimated based on the bi‐phasic model for HCV during IFN treatment. Viral kinetics of HCV‐4 follow a bi‐phasic decline pattern also. The mean effectiveness of IFN in blocking production of HCV‐4 was a decline of 77.8% during the first day of treatment. The half‐life of free virions was estimated at 3.5 h and that of infected cells from 1.9 to over 70 days. The viral dynamics parameters of HCV‐4 appear similar to those of HCV‐1 and slower than those of HCV‐2. HCV‐4 infected patients should be grouped with those with HCV‐1 when therapeutic schemes are considered in relation to genotype.