Full or partial seroreversion in patients infected by hepatitis C virus.
Cases of partial seroreversion have been reported in hemodialyzed or immunodepressed patients, but spontaneous clearance of viremia associated with a disappearance of specific antibodies or clearance while receiving therapy has not been precisely documented in immunocompetent hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons. A longitudinal study of markers of HCV infection in a cohort of 178 multitransfused patients followed over an 8-year period was done to establish well-documented cases of partial or full seroreversion. Thirty (16.8%) of 178 patients were HCV-infected; among them, 5 had partial or full seroreversion. Seroreversion to an anti-HCV-negative state is characterized by a quantitative decrease in antibody. A seroreversion may be observed in three circumstances: spontaneously, induced by therapy, and in conjunction with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Long-term follow-up of seroreverters will establish whether they have definitively eradicated HCV from their systems.
Lefrère
J J
JJ
Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
Guiramand
S
S
Lefrère
F
F
Mariotti
M
M
Aumont
P
P
Lerable
J
J
Petit
J C
JC
Girot
R
R
Morand-Joubert
L
L
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000410:Alanine Transaminase