US researchers have determined a potential marker to identify patients prone to hepatitis C relapse after antiviral therapy.
The researchers evaluated the immune response of hepatitis C virus-infected individuals treated with antiviral agents.
They found patients showing increased expression of type I interferon were more likely to remain HCV-free.
By contrast, patients unable to maintain a type I interferon response were more likely to have an HCV relapse.
The results suggest type I interferon treatment in at-risk patients merits future study, researchers said.
Read more at National Institute for Health