[Clinical significance and problems in HCV measurement--comparison of CLEIA method with PCR method].
Infection of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) is confirmed by the presence of HCV antibody or HCV-RNA. Recently, a highly sensitive method to examine HCV-core antigen has been developed. In this study, to evaluate the clinical significance of HCV-core antigen determination, we examined serum HCV infection markers, HCV-core antigen, HCV-RNA (AMPLICOR) and HCV-antibody (third generation) concentrations. We determined 225 serum samples, and three patients receiving the treatment with interferon. In 102 HCV-RNA positive samples, significant correlation was observed between HCV-RNA and HCV-core antigen (r=0.734, p<0.0001). However, three out of 102 (2.9%) cases were included within the negative range of HCV-core antigen (20 fmol/l). The HCV-core antigen value in three patients receiving the treatment with interferon paralleled with the amount of HCV-RNA. The determination of HCV-core antigen by CLEIA is a useful and time-saving method, but an attention should be paid to the presence of false-negative cases.
Ohta
Hirotoshi
H
Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Gifu University Graduate school of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194.
Takemura
Masao
M
Furuta
Nobuyuki
N
Akiyama
Masumi
M
Katagiri
Yasuo
Y
Ohashi
Hazuki
H
Takahashi
Kanako
K
Saito
Kuniaki
K
Seishima
Mitsuru
M
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D007372:Interferons