SERUM HCV RNA LEVELS ASSESSED BY QUANTITATIVE NASBA(R) - STABILITY OFVIRAL LOAD OVER TIME, AND LACK OF CORRELATION WITH LIVER-DISEASE

Background/Aims: We used the hepatitis C virus quantitative NASBA(R) t echnique to evaluate the stability of viral load within individuals wi th chronic hepatitis C, to determine the range of viraemic load betwee n individuals, and to assess the usefulness of hepatitis C virus RNA q uantitation in predicting the severity of underlying hepatitis C virus -induced liver disease, Methods: Hepatitis C virus RNA was determined, using the quantitative NASBA(R) assay, in multiple serum samples from 11 individuals with chronic hepatitis C over an average time period o f 11 months (range=3-23 months), and in single serum samples from a fu rther 10 individuals, Results: In 10/11 individuals the hepatitis C vi rus RNA titres were within one log(10) copies/ml of each other during this time period, In the eleventh, there was a rise of 1.36 log(10) co pies/ml in two serum samples taken 8 months apart, The viraemic load v aried by 2.79 log(10) copies/ml serum between individuals, There were no correlations between mean RNA levels and total biopsy scores (eithe r Knodell or Sheffield scores), or the individual components of the bi opsy scoring systems, except the sinusoidal infiltration component of the Sheffield score, There was also no difference in viral RNA levels between those infected with type 1 as compared to type 3 virus, with a mean level in both groups of 7.2 log(10) copies/ml. Conclusions: Hepa titis C virus serum RNA level is stable within individuals within the studied time period, Viral load varies between infected individuals bu t is not a useful prognostic indicator of the severity of virus-induce d liver disease.