title: [Clinical significance of intrahepatic HCV RNA level in chronic HCV infection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to identify the correlation between the serum HCV RNA and the liver HCV RNA level in chronic hepatitis C patients and to evaluate the differences of biochemistry, histology, HCV genotype and their response to antiviral therapy according to intrahepatic HCV RNA levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  For thirty-six chronic hepatitis C patients (M:F=22:14, CH:LC=27:9), percutaneous liver biopsy was performed, and serum and liver HCV RNA level were measured. Seventeen patients were treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between intrahepatic and serum HCV RNA levels (intrahepatic HCV RNA: 1.9+/-3.1 x 10(7) copies/g vs. serum HCV RNA: 3.2+/-3.2 x 10(6) copies/mL)(r=0.538, P<0.01). Total histological activity score (r=0.346, P=0.04) and periportal inflammation (r=0.398, P=0.01) were correlated with intrahepatic HCV RNA level. However, serum HCV RNA level was not correlated with histological activity. Serum ALT was not correlated with intrahepatic HCV RNA level. Intrahepatic HCV RNA level was higher in genotype 1 than genotype 2 or 3 (P=0.07). Intrahepatic HCV RNA level was not correlated with response to anti-viral therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrahepatic HCV RNA level was correlated with serum HCV RNA level and periportal inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis C. It seems that intrahepatic HCV RNA level is more closely related to histological features than serum HCV RNA level.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Digestive Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yun Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Gyune
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Deok
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Joon Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Moon Sung
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chan Sup
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Boo Sung
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral