All HCV treatment na?ve patients with a positive PCR were include

All HCV treatment na?ve patients with a positive PCR were included. Exclusion criteria included (1) pediatric patients; (2) chronic renal failure patients; (3) previous non-responders and those who had a relapse following http://www.selleckchem.com/products/CHIR-258.html prior treatment; (4) post renal transplant patients; and (5) patients with cirrhosis and signs of portal hypertension. Biochemical assessments, including ALT (normal value: 0-58 IU/L), AST (normal value: 0-36 IU/L), ��-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, albumin, and coagulation profile, were done according to our laboratory standards. Serum HCV RNA was extracted using an automated extraction system. HCV detection and quantification were performed using the COBAS Ampliprep? /COBAS TaqMan? HCV test (Roche diagnostics) utilizing different sets of primers and probes, which target a conserved region of the 5�� untranslated region of the genome.

The main processes of this procedure include: (1) specimen preparation to isolate HCV RNA; (2) reverse transcription of the target RNA to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) and (3) simultaneous PCR amplification of target cDNA and detection of cleaved dual-labeled oligonucleotide detection probe specific to the target. This assay detects and quantifies HCV genotype (1-6) with a detection limit that ranges from 15 to 69 000 000 IU/mL. Prior to treatment, the HCV genotype was assayed using INNO-LiPA HCVII (Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium). After reviewing the patients�� data, 240 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Epidemiological data and treatment records were reviewed.

Liver biopsy is not done routinely in our center unless there is suspicion of underlying cirrhosis or a concomitant liver disease. For data entry, patients were divided according to their gender, viral load (HCV RNA below vs above 8 00 000 IU/mL), age (younger vs older than 40), treatment (PEG-IFN ��-2a vs PEG-IFN ��-2b), liver enzyme pattern (normal vs abnormal), and body mass index (BMI) (below vs above 28) (Table (Table11). Table 1 Patients�� characteristics Patients received either PEG-IFN ��-2a (40 Kd; PEGASYS, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland) at a dose of 180 mg/wk or PEG-IFN ��-2b (12 Kd; PEGINTRON, Schering-Plough LTD, Singapore) at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg, and a standard dose of 1200 mg ribavirin with no weight related adjustments.

While on treatment, patients were followed monthly or more frequently if required. Complete blood count (CBC) and liver enzymes were checked at each visit. To maintain the starting dose of PEGylated interferon and ribavirin, erythropoietin and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) were given as early as possible to overcome any potential treatment-induced anemia or neutropenia. Patients Cilengitide with genotype 2 and 3 were treated for 24 wk, while patients with genotypes 1, 4 and 5 were treated for 48 wk.

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