HEPATITIS-C VIRUS (HCV)-SPECIFIC IN-VITRO ANTIBODY SECRETION BY PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES - CORRELATION WITH PROGRESSION OF DISEASE AND HCV RNA IN HCV ANTIBODY-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Hepatitis C virus-specific in vitro antibody production (HCV NAP) by p eripheral blood lymphocytes in 53 HCV antibody-positive patients was i nvestigated in comparison with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels a nd HCV RNA in serum samples. All 29 HCV IVAP-positive patients were HC V RNA positive; 26 had elevated ALT levels. Among the 24 HCV IVAP-nega tive patients, 16 were HCV RNA negative, with 12 presenting normal ALT values. These data indicate that HCV IVAP results are highly correlat ed (P < 0.001) with HCV RNA results and ALT levels. Our study indicate s that HCV IVAP can be used as a novel assay in the diagnosis and path ogenesis exploration of HCV infection.