Article
Anti-Golgi complex antibodies during pegylated-interferon therapy for hepatitis C
Registro en:
PARANÁ, R. et al. Anti-Golgi complex antibodies during pegylated-interferon therapy for hepatitis C. Liver International, v. 26, p. 1148-1154, 2006.
1478-3223
10.1111/j.1478-3231.2006.01345.x
Autor
Paraná, Raymundo
Schinoni, Maria Isabel
Freitas, Luiz Antonio Rodrigues de
Codes, Liana
Cruz, Marla
Andrade, Zilton de Araújo
Trépo, Christian
Resumen
Background/Aim: Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin is
the standard therapy for hepatitis C. Peg-IFN has several antiviral
mechanisms, but its role in hepatitis C treatment seems to be related to its
immunomodulatory effect. Ribavirin, an antiviral agent, potentiates IFN
activity when added to it. Both drugs are associated with adverse reactions of
different magnitudes. Autoimmune phenomena have been reported with this
treatment. In this paper, we describe cases of ALT/GGT flares during Peg-
IFN plus ribavirin treatment, which related to the appearance of anti-Golgi
antibody and disease progress. Methods: We investigated three patients with
hepatitis C and severe ALT/GGT flares during Peg-IFN and ribavirin
treatment coinciding with anti-Golgi complex antibody as the only marker of
autoimmunity. We then reviewed the medical files and tested anti-Golgi
antibody in stored sera from 25 patients treated with conventional IFN and
in 14 patients treated with Peg-IFN. Results: The three patients were male,
over 45 years of age; all were relapsers and non-responders. Anti-Golgi
antibody was positive during treatment coinciding with ALT/GGT flares but
with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA negativity, disappearing after stopping
treatment, with normalization of ALT/AST levels. One patient had
progression of fibrosis from F2 to F3 despite negativity of HCV-RNA. In the
last group, only two patients treated with Peg-IFN experienced ALT/GGT
flares but without anti-Golgi antibody Conclusions: The presence of anti-
Golgi complex antibody could be a marker of a temporary autoimmune
phenomenon and progressive disease.