Determination of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein using a novel approach for quantitative evaluation of HCV viraemia in anti-HCV-positive patients.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently diagnosed by detection of antibody to the HCV (anti-HCV). Recently, a method for detection of HCV core protein, "Imucheck F-HCV Ag Core Kokusai", has been developed. In this study, we evaluate the utility of this method.


METHODS
HCV core protein levels in sera were determined using this following method; anti-HCV titres were measured by particle agglutination (PA) test and then quantitative HCV-RNA values were investigated using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.


RESULTS
The HCV core protein was detected only in anti-HCV-positive sera. Of 490 anti-HCV-positive sera, 130 (26.5%) were positive by this method. Of 144 anti-HCV-positive/HCV-RNA-positive sera, 130 (90.3%) were positive by it. A significant correlation between the HCV core protein levels and quantitative HCV-RNA values was recognized (n= 110, r=0.86, p<0.01). A significant correlation between the HCV core protein levels and alanine aminotransferase titres was also observed (n=67, r=0.72, p<0.05). All 71 patients with chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were positive with this method, whereas 18 of 32 patients with chronic inactive hepatitis were positive. Twenty-three patients with chronic active hepatitis were treated with interferon-alpha. During therapy, some patients showed a negative conversion of HCV core protein. One (7.7%) of 13 patients with HCV genotype 1 and 5 (62.8%) of 8 patients with genotype 2 remained negative for 6 months after the therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This method may be useful for quantitative evaluation of HCV viraemia in anti-HCV-positive patients.
Komatsu
F
F
Blood Transfusion Service, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Takasaki
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase