Methods: Patients who have HCV and a positive ASMA were compared retrospectively to patients with HCV and a negative ASMA. Baseline characteristics including HCV genotypes, initial viral load by RT-PCR, response rate to interferon therapy, histologic grade of disease activity and stage of fibrosis using the Knodell HAI were compared.

Results: Ninety-two consecutive patients with HCV were evaluated. Eighty-one patients were tested for ASMA and 30/81 patients (37%) had a positive ASMA. The ASMA titre was ‹1:160 in all but one patient. HCV genotypes 1,2,3 and 4 represented 63%, 20%,17% and 0% of ASMA positive patients and 71%,20%,6%, and 3% of ASMA negative patients (p=ns). The median viral load was 2.9 x 10 in patients with positive ASMA compared to 3.1 x 10 with a negative ASMA (p=ns). Review of 62 available liver biopsies showed no significant difference in the grade of disease activity (p-0.46) or the stage of fibrosis (p=0.59). Of the 51 patients who have completed monotherapy with alpha-interferon (INTRON A®) only 1/15 (7%) who were positive for ASMA responded to interferon compared to 6/36 patients (17%) who had a statistical significance (p+0.57). Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events was similar in both groups.