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Long‐term evolution of serum and liver viral markers in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C and sustained response
Author(s) -
Moreno M.,
PérezAlvarez R.,
Rodrigo L.,
PérezLópez R.,
SuárezLeiva P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2005.00650.x
Subject(s) - antibody , medicine , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , chronic hepatitis , hepacivirus , rna , flaviviridae , gastroenterology , virology , immunology , biology , virus , gene , biochemistry
Summary. Few studies have analysed the evolution of HCV markers in chronic hepatitis C (CHC)‐treated patients. We have evaluated the presence or absence of serum and liver HCV‐RNA, the core antigen (HCV‐cAg) and the loss of specific antibodies (anti‐HCV), in long‐term sustained responders (SR). One hundred and seventy‐six patients (132 SR and 44 nonresponders (NR) were included in the study. HCV‐RNA was determined in serum and liver by a commercial PCR‐kit. HCV‐Ag was determined by ELISA and specific antibodies against HCV by means of a commercial line immunoblot assay (LIA) technique. Serum HCVcAg was found positive in three (4.2%) SR and in one (4%) NR (NS). Four SR (3.6%) and 44 NR (100%) were also HCV‐RNA (+) in liver tissue. Two patients were HCV‐cAg (+). A good correlation was found between the serum levels of HCV‐cAg and HCV‐RNA ( r = 0.847, P < 0.001). Specific antibodies (anti‐HCV) were determined by LIA in 45 patients. A decrease was found in the number of patients who presented reactivity to bands E2 and NS4 when we compared SR with a follow‐up of more than 5 years with NR and SR with a follow‐up <5 years ( P < 0.01 and 0.005). A good correlation was found between the HCV‐cAg and HCV‐RNA serum levels in CHC‐treated patients ( P < 0.001). Few SR (3.6%) had HCV‐RNA in the liver, and HCV‐cAg (1.8%) in serum. In SR with more than 5 years of follow‐up a clear tendency exists in the trend to clarify the bands E2 and NS4 of anti‐HCV in serum.