DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-RNA IN BILE

Objectives: The infectivity of bile in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains to be clarified. The purpose of this study wa s to document the detection of HCV-RNA in bile of patients with HCV in fection, Methods: Bile and serum samples were tested for HCV RNA by a two-step polymerase chain reaction technique in 12 patients with HCV i nfection, Results: HCV-RNA was detected in the serum of all 12 patient s, whereas 6 of 12 bile samples (50%) tested positive, Comparison of l aboratory data between patients with and without HCV-RNA in bile demon strated statistically higher serum total bilirubin among those with po sitive bile HCV RNA than those without, but other clinical and biochem ical variables as well as hepatitis activity scores were comparable be tween the two groups, Conclusions: Bile of HCV antibody-positive patie nts could be infectious.