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Significance of hepatic expression of hepatitis C viral antigens in chronic hepatitis C DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES GONZALEZPERALTA, R. P., Fang, J. W., Davis, G. L., Gish, R. G., Kohara, M., Mondelli, M. U., Urdea, M. S., Mizokami, M., Lau, J. Y. 1995; 40 (12): 2595-2601

Abstract

To determine the significance of hepatic expression of hepatitis C viral (HCV) antigens, HCV core and NS4 antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in 46 patients with chronic HCV infection. Serum HCV RNA was quantitated by branched DNA assay in 41 and HCV genotype determined in 30 patients. HCV core and NS4 antigens were detected exclusively in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in 83% and 61% of patients, respectively. There was no correlation between the expression of HCV antigens and clinical, biochemical, histological parameters and HCV genotype. Hepatic expression of HCV antigens was positively associated with serum HCV-RNA levels (P < 0.02). At the end of interferon-alpha (IFN) therapy, expression of HCV antigens remained either unchanged or decreased in 11/12 patients studied (undetectable in all four patients who had complete and sustained response). We conclude that hepatic expression of HCV core and NS4 antigens parallels serum HCV-RNA levels and IFN therapy reduces hepatic expression of these viral antigens.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995TP50900015

View details for PubMedID 8536518