[Analysis on the decline of hepatitis C virus RNA in the blood using a mathematical model].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a mathematical model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and develop a working theory for antiviral therapy in order to understand the dynamics of HCV replication.


METHODS
Peripheral blood cells of 4 hepatitis C patients were cultured. Quantities of the HCV were detected every 15 min by real-time PCR. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. A mathematical functional relationship between HCV RNA and the time lapse was established.


RESULTS
The quantity of HCV RNA declined and it fell into a mathematical model: Y=3E+0.8e(-0.5467x) (r=0.9547). The estimated virion half-life was 45 min on the average.


CONCLUSIONS
The decline of HCV RNA in the blood is not of a linear trend and the HCV RNA lasts a longer time although the speed of the decline is faster than that in vivo.
Yu
Zu-Jiang
ZJ
Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Kan
Quan-Cheng
QC
He
Yun
Y
Jiang
He-Qing
HQ
Liang
Hong-Xia
HX
Li
Tai-Sheng
TS
D000328:Adult; D006207:Half-Life; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral