Circulating soluble Fas levels in patients with hepatitis C virus infection and interferon therapy.

Background: The clinical relevance of the circulating soluble form of the Fas-Receptor (sFas) was investigated in patients with hepatitis C receiving type 1 interferon (IFN) therapy.

Methods: sFas was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers and 30 HCV-naive or previously infected controls. The levels were then monitored during enhanced treatment with type 1 IFNs in 15 chronic hepatitis C patients.

Histological improvement of chronic liver disease after spontaneous serum hepatitis C virus clearance.

The long-term histological and virological outcomes of spontaneous circulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance were studied in chronic liver disease. Between 1979 and 1984, three patients underwent laparoscopy for chronic non-A, non-B liver disease, and two were found to have cirrhosis and one with chronic active hepatitis. After HCV assays became available in 1990, they were positive persistently for HCV antibody without serum HCV RNA.