Clinical and histologic predictors of response to interferon-α in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection

To evaluate if any pretreatment characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) can be used to predict response to the current recommended dose (3 million units three times a week) and higher doses of interferon-α (IFN), we retrospectively assessed the response of 37 patients with HCV who were treated with IFN. Sixteen patients (43%) responded to the standard dose of IFN with normalization of ALT. Weight and liver histology were found to be significant factors for response. The responders weighed significantly less than nonresponders (161.8 ± 35.5 lb versus 200.3 ± 45.4 lb,P=0.008). Seventy-five percent of patients with chronic lobular or persistent hepatitis were responders, whereas only 28% of patients with more advanced hepatitis responded (P=0.01). There was no correlation between the degree of bile duct damage or steatosis and response rate. This study suggests that obesity and severe histologic injury are negative predictive factors of response to the current recommended dose of IFN. The adequacy of the current recommended dose of IFN in overweight patients needs to be investigated.