title: Quantitation of the level of hepatitis delta virus RNA in serum, by real-time polymerase chain reaction--and its possible correlation with the clinical stage of liver disease.
abstract: Some hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) superinfection show progressive chronic hepatitis, whereas others show no apparent signs of liver disease. In the present study, we established a sensitive method for the quantitation of the level of HDV RNA in serum on the basis of real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to clarify the role that the level of HDV RNA in serum plays in the diverse natural course of clinical manifestation. In 48 subjects who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and for anti-hepatitis delta antibody, the levels of HDV RNA in serum were quantitated by RT-PCR. The levels of HBV DNA in serum were determined by a transcription-mediated amplification assay. The levels of HDV RNA in serum of subjects with chronic hepatitis and of subjects with liver cirrhosis were significantly higher than those in asymptomatic carrier subjects. The levels of HBV DNA in serum did not differ significantly among these 3 groups. In conclusion, HDV RNA quantification by real-time RT-PCR is possibly a useful tool for understanding the pathophysiology of HDV infection.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakasone
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakugawa
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral