Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in normal cervical smears of HCV-seropositive patients.
The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in normal cervical smears (CS) obtained from 22 HCV-seropositive and 50 HCV-seronegative patients was assessed by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The presence of HCV in serum was established by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot test, and RT-PCR. HCV was detected in 36.4% (n=8) of CS cells recovered from 22 HCV-seropositive patients, but not in CS samples obtained from 50 HCV-seronegative patients. Furthermore, cells from the CS of 2 seropositive/smear-positive patients and 1 seropositive/smear-negative patient were isolated; HCV RNA was detectable in the cervical lymphocytes of the 2 smear-positive patients, but not in epithelial cells or granulocytes. HCV RNA is detectable in the CS of some HCV-seropositive women. The clinical importance of these data requires further study.
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D012367:RNA, Viral