Multicenter evaluation of hepatitis C RNA levels among female injection drug users.
The purpose of this investigation was to identify factors that determine the blood level of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. By use of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, the level of HCV RNA was ascertained in stored serum samples from 676 women enrolled in a multicenter prospective investigation who were seropositive for anti-HCV antibodies. HCV RNA levels ranged from undetectable to 22.4x106 copies/mL in these women. Among the 520 women with detectable HCV RNA, levels were higher among those who were >41 years old and those who had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. After adjusting for age in a multivariate linear regression model, HCV RNA levels were more strongly associated with HIV RNA levels than with CD4(+) lymphocyte counts. However, <6% of person-to-person variance was explained by the factors evaluated. Additional research is needed to ascertain what determines the level of HCV RNA in blood.
Thomas
D L
DL
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Rich
J D
JD
Schuman
P
P
Smith
D K
DK
Astemborski
J A
JA
Nolt
K R
KR
Klein
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D012367:RNA, Viral