Concentration of b2-microglobulin and percentage of CD4 lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients with chronic HCV infection during IFN-a therapy.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the serum b2-MG concentration and CD4 lymphocytes in the blood of HCV infected patients during IFN-a therapy, searching for a correlation between b2-MG concentration, CD4 lymphocytes, and therapy effectiveness, as well as morphological changes in the liver. MATERIAL/
METHODS: 24 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with IFN-a2a. The serum b2-MG concentration was measured with the use of a method based on the fluorescent modification of the immunoenzymatic technique. The percentage of T CD4 lymphocytes in the blood was measured by direct immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies.
RESULTS: The number of CD4 lymphocytes in the blood was lower in the HCV infected patients (864/ml; preferred values from 1,300 to 2,100/ml), the b2-MG concentration was elevated (2.37 mg/dl) in comparison to the preferred values (1.52 mg/dl; p<0.05). IFN-a therapy caused an increase in the b2-MG. The highest increase was observed among patients who did not eliminate the virus (from 2.39 to 4.10 mg/dl). In the initial period of interferon therapy an increase was observed (from 729 to 1082/ml) in the number of CD4 lymphocytes among those patients who eliminated the virus and a decrease (from 947 to 853/ml) in the patients who were not treated successfully.
CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in b2-MG during interferon therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection is a predictor of poor outcome. An increase in the number of CD4 lymphocytes in the initial phase of treatment suggests a positive outcome.