Changes in HCV viremia following LDL apheresis in a HCV positive patient with familial hypercholesterolemia.
It has been suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be associated with beta-lipoprotein in human serum. According to this, the LDL receptor could promote endocytosis of such a virus. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in HCV viremia in a HCV positive patient with familial hypercholesterolemia, undergoing both selective (DALI System, Fresenius) and non-selective (plasma exchange) LDL apheresis. HCV-RNA levels did not decrease following selective LDL apheresis, on the contrary showed a random, odd variation pattern (from -35% to +72%). Conversely, plasma exchange steadily induced a drop in HCV viremia (-35/43%), to a lower extent than that of a totally intravascular plasmaprotein, i.e., alpha 2-macroglobulin (-53/54%). These data indicate that beta-lipoprotein may not function as a plasma carrier of HCV, at least in the present case. Moreover, a continuous, quantitatively unforeseeable circulation of HCV virions from the intravascular plasma compartment to other extravascular and intracellular sites, seems to occur during an apheresis session.
Marson
P
P
Apheresis Unit, Blood Transfusion Service, General University Hospital of Padova, Italy.
Boschetto
R
R
De Silvestro
G
G
Martini
S
S
Gabelli
C
C
Buoro
S
S
Giordano
R
R
Palù
G
G
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012367:RNA, Viral; D002784:Cholesterol