title: Hepatitis C virus RNA in serum of blood donors with or without elevated transaminase levels.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hybridotest, Institut Pasteur; INSERM U75 Centre Hôpitalier Universitaire Necker, Paris, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Driss
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berthelot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nalpas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brechot
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase