title: Effective detection of active HCV infection: HCV RNA carrier state in a context free of hepatitis symptoms.
abstract: HCV immunological assays have limited specificity due to considerable variability of genomic coding sequences. Accordingly, PCR RNA detection also shows variable incidence of HCV in a non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis context. We used in-house designed nested PCR applying primers from the 5' untranslated region in 150 thalassemic patients classified in four groups according to anti-HCV screening and glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels. Group A: anti-HCV+/high GPT levels; group B: anti-HCV+/normal GPT levels; group C: anti-HCV(-)+high GPT levels; group D: anti-HCV(-)+normal GPT levels. Viral incidence and concentration, both high in group A, decreased towards group D. Group C RNA incidence was unexpectedly high and, moreover, one control case proved HCV-RNA+. Compared with the Amplicor kit or primers were considerably more sensitive.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Athens University, Aghia Sophia Childrens' Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arapinis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kostaridou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kattamis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral