HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] as a predictor of the response to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] has been found to infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs], using them as a reservoir, which might contribute to the development of resistance to treatment. To study hepatitis virus C [HCV] RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC5] of patients with chronic HCV infection, and explore the relationship between the HCV RNA in the PBMCs and response to interferon [IFN] therapy. Twenty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis C were included. The HCV RNA in PBMCs and serum was detected after 12 weeks of initializing interferon treatment, at the end of treatment, and 24 week and 1 year follow up after the end of the treatment. At the end of the treatment course, patients who were found to have positive PCR test for HCV RNA in PBMCs were subdivided into two groups, one group continues to receive IFN therapy while the other group stops. The HCV RNA in PBMCs and serum was detected by RT-PCR using the Amplicor HCV 2.0 assay. All patients had negative serum PCR test for HCV RNA at the end of treatment, nevertheless HCV RNA was detected in PBMCs of approximately 32% of these patients. Patients who tested positively for HCV RNA in PBMCs at the end of treatment had an overall significantly