title: Presence of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells may predict patients response to interferon and ribavirin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered a hepatotropic virus, but it can repli.cate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which influence the sustained virological response (SVR) of the patients, as well as relapse in successfully treated patients. The main objective of this study was to establish the importance of PBMC HCV RNA detection as a primary test to declare the patient as a responder, and the secondary objective was to investigate the risk of non-SVR or relapse in individuals who showed an end-of-treatment (ETR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected after the completion of 6 months of therapy, and they were collected 6 months after the completion of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 103 patients infected with the 3a genotype of HCV and those who were treated with interferon-a-2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks were selected. HCV RNA in plasma of at the end of treatment and 6 months after the completion of treatment was determined with the help of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 103 patients, 74.8% (number [n]=77) were end-of-treatment responders, while 25.2% (n=26) were nonresponders. Seventy-seven responders were tested for HCV RNA in their PBMCs. The HCV RNA was detected in the PBMCs of 29 patients (37.7%). After 6 months of the end of treatment, 15 (19.5%) of 77 ETR patients showed virological relapse, while 62 (80.5%) patients attained SVR. Relapse appeared significantly more often in patients with HCV RNA in their PBMCs at the ETR stage when compared to the patients who did not have the viral RNA (34.5% versus 10.4%, respectively; R2=6.67, P=.01; odds ratio [OR]: 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.032-1.811).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with HCV RNA in their PBMCs after attaining an ETR are more likely to show relapse as compared to patients who are negative for viral RNA in PBMCs at the ETR stage.
authors.forename: Nasib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Javaid Asad, Department of Biochemistry, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, mjavaidasad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Javaid
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Asad
authors.forename: Abida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Ghazala Kaukab
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.forename: Shamim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Raja Tahir
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mahmood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
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