Nonspecificity of monoclonal antibody Tordji-22 for the detection of hepatitis C virus in liver transplant recipients with cholestatic hepatitis

Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in liver tissue provides impo rtant diagnostic and pathological information. Limited studies have been pe rformed on tissue taken after liver transplantation for HCV, In this study, serial post-liver transplantation biopsy tissue from patients with recurre nt HCV was tested, with particular interest in patients showing severe chol estatic hepatitis. HCV-related antigens were detected using the commercial monoclonal antibody, Tordji-22. Initial results were promising, showing int ense positive staining, especially in areas of hepatocyte ballooning, HCV-n egative donor tissue was consistently negative by staining. However, as a f inal control for the level of tissue damage, HCV negative posttransplantati on biopsy tissue showing hepatocyte ballooning was examined, These tissues also showed positive staining. All attempts to eliminate this nonspecific i nteraction failed. in conclusion, Tordji-22 was associated with nonspecific ity in this posttransplantation population, and care is warranted when usin g this monoclonal antibody. Copyright (C) 1999 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.