title: Clearance of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell as a predictor of response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The resolution of hepatitis C, evidenced by normalization of liver function and disappearance of hepatitis C virus RNA from serum as determined by conventional laboratory assays, reflects virus eradication. But in interferon treated patients the HCV RNA in serum sometimes could not show the virus in cells. Such factors as virus genotype, HCV RNA contents in serum, HCV specific cellular immunities after treatment were reported to predict the response to interferon therapy. In most patients, HCV RNA could detect the virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cell. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of HCV RNA in PBMC of patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with interferon for 24 weeks, and they all get complete responses at 12 weeks of treatment. At the end of treatment, the HCV RNA in PBMC and serum were detected by RT-PCR, and after stopping treatment, HCV RNA in serum was monitored continually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 9 patients who were HCV RNA positive in their PBMC at the end of treatment, 8 showed serum HCV RNA positive after 24 weeks and another 1 after 1 year. In 7 patients with negative HCV RNA in their PBMC, only 2 patients relapsed in serum HCV RNA after 1-year follow-up, and others remained viral response after 3.5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV RNA in PBMC at the end of IFN treatment is a predictor of durable response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing 100011, China. xudzh@ht.rol.cn.net
authors.forename: Dao-Zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zheng-Qin
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral