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J Med Virol 1998 May;55(1):7-11
Clinical significance of hepatic HCV RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis
C demonstrating long-term sustained response to interferon-alpha therapy.
Larghi A, Tagger A, Crosignani A, Ribero ML, Bruno S, Portera G, Battezzati
PM, Maggioni M, Fasola M, Zuin M, Podda M
Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale San Paolo, Milan, Italy.
Whether sustained biochemical response and absence of serum HCV RNA in the
6-12 months following suspension of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy reflect
definitive viral clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infection is controversial. To obtain more information on this topic, HCV RNA
was sought in both liver and serum samples of 25 long-term responders who were
followed for a median period of 39 months (range 21-79) after discontinuation
of IFN-alpha. Liver biopsy was undertaken before and 6 to 12 months after IFN-alpha
withdrawal. Liver and serum HCV RNA were tested by a nested polymerase chain
reaction. Twenty-two patients (88%) tested negative for both liver and serum
HCV RNA, two patients had detectable HCV RNA in both liver and serum, and one
patient showed persistent HCV RNA only in the liver. Post-treatment liver histology
improved markedly in all patients, including those with viral persistence. During
further follow-up, biochemical remission was maintained in all patients except
one in whom both serum and liver specimens remained HCV RNA positive. The data
indicate that the large majority of long-term responders test negative for HCV
RNA in the liver, which suggests definitive eradication of HCV RNA infection.
PMID: 9580879, UI: 98241980
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