Epidemiological, biological and histological characterization of patients with indeterminate third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay antibody results for hepatitis C virus.
We studied the epidemiological, laboratory and histological characteristics of a group of patients with positive antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and with indeterminate HCV antibody positivity as established by third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-3). The results obtained were compared with those recorded in a group of RIBA-3-positive patients. Both groups correspond to blood donors in whom the prevalence of hepatitis C is low. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in mean age, or in the presence of infection risk factors. RNA positivity was much more frequent in the RIBA-positive group (71%vs 10%; P < 0.05), as was transaminase elevation during the 3 years of follow-up (54%vs 13%; P < 0.05). In 46% of the RIBA-indeterminate patients the liver biopsy proved normal, or only liver steatosis or minimal changes were detected, while 33% had persistent chronic hepatitis, and 21% showed active chronic hepatitis. A mean Knodell index score of 2.28 was recorded; 50% of the subjects showed no fibrosis, 46% grade 1 fibrosis (fibrous portal expansion), 4% grade 2 fibrosis (bridging fibrosis), and none grade 3 fibrosis (liver cirrhosis). In the RIBA-positive group, a greater percentage of patients had active chronic hepatitis, a greater Knodell index, and increased-grade fibrosis. It can be concluded that the RIBA-3-indeterminate group is epidemiologically similar to the RIBA-3-positive series, although with a lesser prevalence of laboratory test alterations, a lower viral replication index, and more likely to have benign disease - particularly in subjects without viral replication.
Ríos
M
M
Hepatology Section, Service of Digestive Diseases, University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain. mriosp@mixmail.com
Diago
M
M
Rivera
P
P
Tuset
C
C
Cors
R
R
García
V
V
Carbonel
P
P
Gonzalez
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase