Serological and histological features of anti-HCV-positive individuals without serum HCV RNA

Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in patients who are negative for H CV RNA in serum may indicate a memory of past infection of HCV. However, th eir clinical features have not been well understood. Fourteen anti-HCV-posi tive but HCV RNA-negative individuals were examined for serological and his tological features. As a result, it was found that they had only antibody t o HCV core antigen C22-3 with or without antibody to nonstructural viral an tigen C33c on a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA), and that an concentrat ion of anti-C22 was low. Liver biopsy showed two having no evidence of an o bvious hepatic injury, two having a minimal change, and two having portal f ibrosis. HCV RNA was not found in the liver. These results corroborate an i dea that the anti-HCV in HCV RNA-negative individuals implies a past infect ion of HCV. Furthermore, it is suggested that a combination of an appearanc e pattern of antibody to HCV antigens on RIBA and anti-C22 titer are an use ful marker to distinguish anti-HCV-positive individuals without viremia fro m those with viremia. (C) 1998 Toshoku University Medical Press.