Study on Occult HCV in Chronic Patients After Interferon Therapy
Author Information
Author(s): Muazzam Ambreen G, Qureshi Saleem, Mansoor Atika, Ali Lubna, Iqbal Musarrat, Siddiqi Saima, Khan Khalid M, Mazhar Kehkashan
Primary Institution: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of occult HCV in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 after antiviral therapy?
Conclusion
True occult hepatitis C virus does not exist in our cohort, as residual viremia reflects differences in viral kinetics rather than persistent infection.
Supporting Evidence
- 70% of patients responded to interferon treatment and cleared the virus from serum.
- 16 patients were found positive for viral RNA in their PBMCs at the end of treatment.
- All patients who were PBMC-positive cleared the virus by the 6-12 month follow-up.
Takeaway
The study found that even if some patients had traces of the virus in their blood cells after treatment, they eventually cleared it, showing that the virus doesn't hide in the body.
Methodology
151 chronic, antiHCV and serum RNA-positive patients were enrolled and followed for up to one year after antiviral therapy.
Limitations
The study did not include liver biopsies, which are the gold standard for detecting occult HCV.
Participant Demographics
Patients were predominantly from the Potohar region of Pakistan, with a mix of treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced individuals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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