Changes in the acute phase complement component and IL-6 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving interferon α-2b

Abstract In order to study the effect of interferon alpha on the levels of acute phase complement proteins in vivo, serum concentrations of C9 and C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) were measured in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and 3 months after the beginning of interferon α2b therapy. Serum levels of the activation product of terminal complement pathway, C5b-9, HCV RNA and IL-6 were also determined. IFN alpha treatment significantly ( P