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Hepatitis C virus RNA in serum of blood donors with or without elevated transaminase levels
Author(s) -
Romeo R.,
Thiers V.,
Driss F.,
Berthelot P.,
Nalpas B.,
Brechot C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1993.33893342742.x
Subject(s) - viremia , hepatitis c virus , alanine transaminase , aspartate transaminase , transaminase , hepatitis c , medicine , polymerase chain reaction , immunology , virology , antibody , virus , elevated transaminases , alanine aminotransferase , hepacivirus , hepatitis , biology , enzyme , alkaline phosphatase , gene , biochemistry
The pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia in blood donors who are positive for antibody to HCV (anti‐HCV) according to the level of transaminase activity is unclear. A polymerase chain reaction‐based HCV RNA detection method was used to study two clearly defined groups of anti‐HCV‐positive blood donors with repeatedly normal (n = 27) and elevated (n = 17) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. HCV RNA was detected in only 4 of 27 blood donors with normal ALT values and 15 of 17 with elevated ALT values. These results indicate that anti‐HCV‐positive blood donors with normal ALT levels constitute a heterogeneous group, as HCV viremia is detectable in only a small proportion of cases. Polymerase chain reaction should be useful in the surveillance of anti‐HCV‐positive blood donors with normal ALT levels, by identifying those who might benefit from further investigation and treatment.