[Antibodies against hepatitis C virus. Experience with a second generation test]. / Anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis C. Experiencias con una prueba de segunda generación.

A second generation recombinant immunoblot assay to detect antibodies against Hepatitis C virus (RIBA II, Ortho Diagnostic Systems) was applied to 30 serum samples repeatedly reactive to ELISA anti-HCV c100-3, 11 from hemodialysis patients, 11 from patients with chronic hepatitis and 8 from patients with cirrhosis. The assay detects individual antibodies directed to 4 antigenic components of the C virus, 2 antigens, c100 and 5-1-1 contained in the original ELISA assay and 2 new antigens, c33c and c22-3 the latter structural in nature. From the total of 30 samples, 23 (77%) were reactive, 4 (13%) indeterminate and 3 (10%) non reactive to the RIBA II assay. Much variation was observed regarding the response to each individual antigen. c22-3 was the most frequently reactive with the highest intensity. RIBA II assay confirmed a high percentage of the reactive results with the ELISA c-100-3, serum samples that were non reactive to RIBA showed a low optical density with ELISA. c22-3 was the most sensitive antigenic component.

[Antibodies against hepatitis C virus in patients with liver diseases and in risk subjects. Preliminary report]. / Anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con hepatopatías y en sujetos a riesgo. Comunicación preliminar.

The recent discovery of an antigenic component of the causative agent of Non-A, Non-B hepatitis, has led to the characterization of this virus--Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)--and to the identification of an antibody present in infected subjects (anti-HCV) detected by means of the C-100 antigen derived from a nonstructural region of the viral genome. Using a commercial Kit (Ortho Diagnostic Inc.), the incidence of anti-HCV antibody was studied in the Military Hospital "Dr. Carlos Arvelo" of Caracas, Venezuela with the following results: Health personnel (doctors, nurses, laboratory staff): 102 persons studied, 2 positives (1.96%); 16 patients in chronic hemodialysis: 6 positives (33%); 20 subjects with antibodies against HIV virus, confirmed by Western Blot: 7 positives (35.4%). Of 10 patients with Surface Antigen negative Chronic Hepatitis, 7 (70%) positive for anti-HCV, of 25 patients with cirrhosis: 12 positive (48%), 2 patients with hepatocarcinoma 1 positive (50%). There was also a high incidence of total anti-core antibodies in the patients studied. The results suggest that the hepatitis C virus could be playing an important role as a causative factor of liver diseases in our Country.