Abstract: Objective To investigate the impact of interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels on sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) undergoing treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 CHC patients admitted to Xijing Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, between May 2020 and May 2022. The patients were divided into two groups based on their treatment regimens: the peginterferon (Peg IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) group (PR scheme, n=20) and DAAs group (n=40). An additional 10 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. The study compared the general characteristics and laboratory tests across the three groups, examined changes in IP-10 levels in CHC patients during treatment, and analyzed the impact of IP-10 level on SVR in CHC patients receiving DAAs. Results The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and IP-10 levels, as well as liver IP-10 mRNA and protein levels, were significantly higher in CHC patients [(70.8 ± 4.7) U/L, (427.5 ± 15.4) pg/mL, (2.0 ± 0.4), and (2.7 ± 0.5), respectively], compared to the control group [(21.5 ± 6.0) U/L, (135.1 ± 33.5) pg/mL, 1,1[1], P<0.05]. During treatment with DAAs, the serum IP-10 levels in CHC patients gradually decreased, with more pronounced reductiosn observed in patients who achieved SVR . Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a serum IP-10 level below 450 pg/mL and a reduction of more than 30% after 12 weeks of treatment as independent predictors of SVR in CHC patients treated with DAAs (OR=5.333, 5.485, P<0.05). Conclusion IP-10 can interfere with virus replication, and the dynamic decrease in serum IP-10 levels in CHC patients during DAAs treatment can serve as a predictor of SVR.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis C, Continuous virological response, Interferon inducible protein-10, Direct acting antivirals