title: Detection of HCV RNA using reverse transcription and nested polymerase chain reaction in chronic non-A, non-B liver diseases in Korea.
abstract: To investigate the interrelationship between the anti-HCV prevalence and the HCV RNA positivity in chronic non-A, non-B (NANB) liver diseases in Korea (n = 137), we performed RT-nested PCR using 4 primers in the 5'-noncoding region of HCV genome. The overall HCV RNA positive rates were 62.8%; 87.7% (57/65) of anti-HCV positive cases and 40.3% (29/72) of anti-HCV negative cases. Four patterns according to the combination of anti-HCV and HCV RNA assays could be observed; 41.6% in [anti-HCV+/HCV RNA+], 5.8% in [anti-HCV+/HCV RNA], 21.2% in [anti-HCV+/HCV RNA], and 31.4% in [anti-HCV+/HCV RNA]. Our results suggested that HCV may be still related to chronic NANB liver diseases negative for anti-HCV, and other unknown agents, so-called non-B non-C, might be accounted for patients negative for both, although a low concentration of HCV RNA, or the presence of HCV RNA or HBV DNA in liver tissue should be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral