Evidence for Viral Persistence in Patients Who Test Positive for Anti–Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies and Have Normal Alanine Aminotransferase Levels
Open Access
- 15 May 2005
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 191 (10) , 1730-1733
- https://doi.org/10.1086/429834
Abstract
It is unclear whether patients who test positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and have normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels remain infected with the virus. Eleven patients who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies, had persistently normal ALT levels, and tested negative for HCV RNA by commercial test were studied. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected 2–3 times at 3–6-month intervals, and PBMCs were cultured with phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. HCV RNA was detected in serum samples from 6 (55%) and in PBMCs from 11 (100%) patients. Our results suggest that, in asymptomatic patients who test positive for anti-HCV antibodies, small quantities of HCV RNA commonly persist, even in patients who test negative for HCV RNA in serum by commercial tests.Keywords
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