Interferon-ribavirin therapy induces serum antibodies determining 'rods and rings' pattern in hepatitis C patients

Summary A cytoplasmic antigen associated to inosine-5'-monophosphatedehydrogenase 2 eliciting specific antibodies (antirods and rings, RR) has been identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were exposed to pegylated interferon (PI) and ribavirin (RBV). The significance of anti-RR in these patients merits to be investigated. Sera from 88 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients undergoing PI-RBV therapy were analysed for the presence of RR pattern by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 substrate (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA). Anti-RR antibodies developed de novo in 32 patients independently of any demographic and virological feature, but with a significant association with cumulative exposure to PI-RBV (P = 0.0089; chi-square test). RR pattern was significantly more frequent in relapsers than in patients achieving sustained virological response (56% vs 30%; P = 0.0282, chi-square test). Anti-RR titre ranged from 1:80 to 1:1280, but significantly declined following treatment cessation. Anti-RR develop de novo in a substantial proportion of patients exposed to PI-RBV in relation to the duration of treatment exposure. Further investigations are necessary to unravel the mechanisms leading to the formation of these autoantibodies

Homocysteine pathway and in vitro fertilization outcome

A prospective study investigating whether levels of the homocysteine pathway are associated with pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Prior to initiate treatments, women gave a blood sample to test serum and red blood cell (RBC) folates, homocysteine and vitamin B12. The main outcome was cumulative clinical pregnancy rate according to basal levels of serum and RBC folates, homocysteine and vitamin B12. Two-hundred-nine women were selected, of whom 56 achieved a clinical pregnancy (27%). Median [interquartile range] levels of RBC and serum folate in women who did and did not become pregnant were 328 and 263\u202fng/ml (p\u202f=\u202f0.018) and 13.6 and 9.4\u202fng/ml (p\u202f=\u202f0.001), respectively. The adjusted ORs (95%CI) of pregnancy in women with RBC and serum folate concentrations in the upper tertile of the distributions were 2.6 (1.4-5.1) and 1.9 (1.0-3.7), respectively. Women undergoing IVF treatments with higher levels of folate have a higher chance of clinical pregnancy