Currently, in the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of HCV infection are used molecular biology methods to detect HCV genetic material and which are based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Due to limitations in the application of this method, such as expensiveness and labor intensive, the alternative might be quantification of HCV core antigen (HCVcAg). Aim of the study was an evaluation of HCVcAg concentrations in patients monoinfected with HCV and HCV/HIV coinfected depending on laboratory parameters characterizing HCV and HIV infections, as well as to evaluate the usefulness of HCVcAg concentrations as a predictor of treatment efficacy.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 31 patients including 12 HCV/HIV coinfected and 19 HCV monoinfected enrolled for treatment with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin. HCVcAg concentrations were analyzed with regard to HCV RNA level, laboratory indicators of liver function and hematology and additionally in HIV infected to HIV RNA level and immune status. During the treatment the prognostic value of HCVcAg concentrations were analyzed before treatment, at 24 hours, as well as 4 and 12 weeks after initiation of therapy for possible prediction of sustained virologic response (SVR).
Results: Among HCV monoinfected patients significant correlation has been shown between HCVcAg concentrations and HCV RNA levels, that was not a case in HCV/HIV co-infection. Significant HCVcAg reduction was demonstrated in both groups during initial 24 hours of treatment, but there were no significant differences between groups at particular time points. Baseline HCVcAg levels were significantly higher in patients without SVR compared to those who achieved SVR and this trend continued throughout the analyzed treatment period.
Conclusions: HCVcAg concentration demonstrate correlation with HCV RNA, and its decrease at the beginning of treatment can predict SVR. HIV coinfection does not affect HCVcAg concentration during therapy.