Occult hepatitis C virus infection revisited with ultrasensitive real-time PCR assay.
Occult hepatitis C infection is regarded as a new entity that should be considered when diagnosing patients with a liver disease of unknown origin. Using an ultrasensitive real-time PCR assay, we demonstrated that occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cannot be found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cryptogenic liver diseases, HCV--associated systemic vasculitis, or connective tissue diseases. The significance of such occult infection must be elucidated.
Halfon
Philippe
P
Laboratoire Alphabio, 23 rue de Friedland, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, 13006 Marseille, France. philippe.halfon@alphabio.fr
Bourlière
Marc
M
Ouzan
Denis
D
Sène
Damien
D
Saadoun
David
D
Khiri
Hacène
H
Pénaranda
Guillaume
G
Martineau
Agnes
A
Oulès
Valérie
V
Cacoub
Patrice
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000821:virology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral