HEPATITIS-C VIRUS DETECTION AND GENOTYPING IN LIVER-TISSUES AND SERA OF SAUDI PATIENTS USING PCR AND A LINE PROBE ASSAY

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare hepatitis C virus ( HCV) detection by PCR and genotyping in sera and liver tissues, to inv estigate the efficacy of a commercial line probe assay for HCV genotyp e determination, and to explore the genotypes found in these samples f rom Saudi patients. Design: Retrospective study. Patients and methods: Tissue specimens from 21 explanted livers and 2 hepatic resections an d their corresponding sera were used. In house-PCR method and a newly introduced commercial kit for HCV genotyping were employed for detecti on and genotyping, respectively. Results: Fifteen of the 23 specimens were PCR-positive for HCV RNA and their genotypes were la in 11 specim ens, Ib in 1 specimen, 4a in 1 specimen, la and Ib in 1 specimen, and la and 4a in 1 specimen. Pre-transplantation or pre-resection serum HC V RNA was positive in all of these 15 patients except one of those bel onging to genotype la, 4a. HCV detection and genotyping performed on p re-transplantation or pre-resection sera yielded the same results as o n liver tissues, except for the one sample where serum was negative an d liver tissue was positive. Conclusions: The use of serum in lieu of liver tissues for HCV detection and genotyping is, therefore, justifie d. The line probe assay is easy to use and produces consistent results , but is relatively expensive. Although HCV-la seems to be common amon g the specimens tested, larger sample number is required to determine the prevalent genotype among Saudi patients with HCV infection.