The Changes Of Cytokines In The Serums Of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Pre-and Post Antiviral Therapy With Interferon-alpha And Ribavirin

Objective: To explore the effect of cytokines on the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C after detesting the levels of cytokines in the serums of patients with chronic hepatitis C pre-and post antiviral therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin. To provide us with evidence about evaluating the efficacy of antiviral therapy, judging prognosis and guiding clinic treatment reasonably. Methods: 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C with ALT abnormal and HCV RNA negative were observed in this study. All the patients were treated with interferon-alpha and ribavirin for 24 weeks. The levels of IL-2, IFN- γ , IL-4, IL-10 in the serums of these patients were detested by ELISA pre-and post antiviral therapy, while biochemical and viral indicators in the serums of these patients were also tested, and the side effects were observed during the treatment. Results: The levels of IL-2, IFN- γ , IL-4, IL-10 in the serums changed after the antiviral therapy., in which the levels of IL-2, IFN- γ increased and the levels of IL-4, IL-10 decreased gradually. The changes of IL-2, IL-10 showed significant differences (P<0.01) . 15 cases obtained complete response to interferon-alpha after antiviral therapy.IL-2, IL-10 showed significant changes in this group (P<0.05). 5 cases were non-response to interferon alpha whose levels of IL-2,IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 showed no significant change (P>0.05). Compared with two groups of different infected durations , different viral quantities and different ALT levels , the changes of IL-2, IL-10 in the serumsshowed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Also there showed no relation respectively between HCV-RNA, ALT and IL-2, IFN- γ , IL-4, IL-10 before treatment by analysis of linear correlation. Compared with the relations between the different infected durations with chronic hepatitis C, the different viral quantities, the different ages and the response rate to Interferon alpha, there showed no statistical difference. There showed no severe side effects during antiviral therapy. Conclusions: IL-2, IFN-γ , IL-4, IL-10 developed significant changes following the negative-transfer of HCV RNA after antiviral therapy. We think that the unbalance of Thl/Th2 exists in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C. Interferon-alpha and ribavirin perform the antiviral effects by regulating the immune state of organism with the higher rate of complete response and with no severe side effect. It is worthy of clinical application. The changes of IL-2, IL-10 can be used as the indicators of evaluating the efficacy of antiviral therapy.