HCV seroreactivity and detection of HCV RNA in cirrhotics

This study was carried out to determine the presence of HCV infection in ci rrhotic patients and to compare their serologic profiles with detection of HCV RNA by RT-PCR. Liver function profiles were assessed and correlated wit h infection. Coinfection of HCV with HBV was studied in the Indian context. Sera from 62 patients of biopsy confirmed cirrhosis and an equal number of asymptomatic controls were tested for HCV by two ELISA (third generation) kits and nested reverse transcription PCR using primers from the 5'NCR. Oth er tests included HBV serology (ELISA for HBsAg and anti-HBc) and liver fun ction tests. Twenty-four (38.7%) cases were HCV infected, of which 17 (70.8 %) had past exposure to HBV or were coinfected with HBV (either being chron ically infected or carriers of HBV). There was no significant difference in the clinical and liver function profiles of HCV infected and uninfected ci rrhotics. Similarly, no difference teas observed in cases coinfected with b oth HCV and HBV compared with those infected with HCV alone. Although the d ifference between positivity of HCV RNA and of anti-HCV teas not significan t, ICV RNA and anti HCV were present together in only 7/62 (11.3%) cases. T hus testing for both antibody and HCV RNA would be more appropriate than ei ther test alone. HBV infection was seen in about one-fourth of HCV infected cirrhotics. About one-fourth (25.8%) patients had non-B, non-C cirrhosis i n whom testing for HCV variants and other recently characterized hepatitis viruses could be performed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.