THE IMMUNE STATUS AND IFN GENE POLYMORPHISM AS PROGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HEPATITIS C TREATMENT IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of immune status and IFN gene polymorphism in the prediction of the efficacy of chronic hepatitis C antiviral therapy in HIV-infected patients. Eighty HIV-infected patients with hepatitis C were recruited. Antiviral therapy included pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. Flow cytometry was used to test the immune status; polymerase chain reaction method was used for the IFN gene polymorphisms determination. It was found the significant differences in the immune status and allelic variants combinations of the genes responsible for the formation of an adequate immune and antiviral responses in groups of patients with different response to treatment of hepatitis C. Herewith the effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment in HIV-infected patients is associated with the activation of T-cell immunity. Polymorphisms of interferon gene with other prognostic factors, make it possible to better define the disease prognosis and the treatment efficacy.

Keywords

• hiv-infection
• viral hepatitis c
• antiviral therapy
• cytokines
• immunogenetic criteria