Viral kinetics and response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C

Background: The therapeutic predictive value of the viral titer changes during antiviral treatment is well-known in chronic hepatitis C. Aim: To analyze the treatment response predictive value of the changes in viral titer within the first 48 hours after treatment initiation in comparison with viral titers determined according to international protocols at 12, 24, 48 weeks of therapy and at 24 weeks follow-up. Patients and methods: Serum samples of 23 patients (male/female: 9/14) newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C (HCV 1a/1b/1a+1b: 4/18/1) were analyzed. All patients received a combination therapy of pegin…