title: [Significance of hepatitis C virus antibodies in asymptomatic blood donors].
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and course of hepatitis C viremia in clinically healthy, anti-HCV positive test subjects, and to ascertain whether the HCV antibodies of the IgM type differed between viremia and immunity. In 21 anti-HCV positive blood donors (test subjects) with normal transaminase activity, two serum samples, taken at an interval of 25 +/- 10 months, have been investigated for HCV-RNA and HCV-IgM antibodies. In a total of 16 test subjects (76%) HCV-RNA was found during the first test and/or the follow-up: 14 of them were positive on both occasions, and one test subject each was HCV-RNA positive exclusively at the first test and the follow-up respectively. At the time of the follow-up the serum transaminase level was elevated in 4 test subjects. 3 of these 4 were HCV-RNA positive also. On the other hand, the results of the HCV-PCR were nonuniform in HCV-IgM antibody negative test subjects. The above results demonstrate that in the majority of clinically healthy, anti-HCV positive test subjects with normal transaminase activity, a viremia exists which persists and the course of which may include inflammatory phases. The proof of HCV-IgM antibodies correlates with a viremia. On the other hand, the lack of HCV-IgM antibodies does not exclude viremia.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Stadtspital Waid, Zürich, Zürich.
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Zaugg
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Joller-Jemelka
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Skruzny
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frey-Wettstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Havelka
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Wicki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bühler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase