Quantification of Serum Hepatitis C Virus in Patients with Chronic C Viral Liver Disease.
- Author:
Young Ah KIM
1
;
Hyon Suk KIM
;
Dong Hee CHO
;
Kwang Hyub HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei Universitiy College of Medicine.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
HCV;
Quantification;
Branched DNA (bDNA) assay;
RT-PCR hybridization
- MeSH:
Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay;
Diagnosis;
Hepacivirus*;
Hepatitis C*;
Hepatitis*;
Humans;
Interferons;
Liver Diseases*;
Liver Function Tests;
Liver*;
RNA;
Viral Load
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Pathology
1998;18(4):603-607
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is useful in diagnosis and monitoring of HCV infection. We evaluated clinical usefulness of HCV quantification and two quantification methods using different assay principles. METHODS: HCV RNA quantities and liver function were measured in patients with different disease severity using bDNA assay (QuantiplexTM, Chiron, USA). HCV RNA loads were quantified at the time of pre/post-interferon treatment in some of them using RT-PCR hybridization assay (AMPLICORTM, Roche, USA). These two quantification methods were also compared. RESULTS: HCV RNA loads showed no significant difference according to disease severity (group I, 3.8 5.3 MEq/mL; group II, 3.8 7.4 MEq/mL; group III, 5.9 13.0 MEq/mL; P=0.181) or interferon response (complete responders, 1.5 105/mL; partial or non responders, 2.2 105/mL; P=0.670). But HCV viral loads decreased at 6th month after interferon treatment (P=0.063) and correlated poorly with liver function tests. The bDNA assay correlated well with the RT-PCR hybridization method (r2=0.854). CONCLUSIONS: The quantificaion of HCV RNA is useful in following up treatment effect but not in predicting therapeutic failure or assessment of disease severity. HCV RNA quantities are independent of liver function. The bDNA assay showed good correlation with the RT-PCR hybridization method.
