Berthoux P, Haem J, Cecillon S, Mosnier JF, Berthoux FC
Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA genome in liver biopsies of
renal transplants
33rd Congress of the Eur Dial Transplant Assoc
Nephrol Dial Transplant
(Jun) 11:A298 1996
Proving the presence of HCV in the liver of HCV infected patients is
important both clinically and scientifically. However, detection of HCV-RNA
sequences by in situ hybridization is difficult and poorly
sensitive.
The authors have developed a new method based on the reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction applied to RNA extracted from liver biopsy
specimens (n=82) of renal transplant recipients. Primers for the 5, non
coding region, were used. HCV RNA was present in 77% of patients that were
also serum positive for HCV RNA. On the other hand all patients (n=10) whose
serum was HCV RNA negative had no detectable HCV RNA in the liver. This
latter finding is important in that suggests that finding HCV RNA in the
liver is not due to blood contamination of the biopsy specimen.
Comment:
These results ought to be confirmed in larger studies. The application
of this new technique may prove of value in the management of patients with
HCV hepatitis (Carmine Zoccali, M.D., Reggio Calabria, Italy).
To go back use the BACK button on your browser.
Otherwise click on the desired link to this article below:
33rd Congress of the Eur Dial Transplant Assoc
Transplant :
Transplantation