Monokine production by peripheral whole blood in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon

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Abstract
Using our scoring system, we studied the production of monokines (interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral whole blood in 35 patients with chronic hepatitis C during the interferon-α/β therapy. It decreased in 25.7% (9/35, group A), fluctuated in 60.0% (21/35, group B), and increased in 14.3% (5/35, group C). The patients in group A were younger than those in group B (PP=0.0184, group A versus group B). In summary, monokine production by peripheral whole blood varied during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients. No significant change was noted in 60% of the patients. However, patients with decreased monokine production were younger, with a mild histological grade, and likely to respond to the interferon therapy.