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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Debra Bevitt, Dr Gavin Spickett, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Toms, Professor Margaret Bassendine
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Background: Heterogeneities in the buoyant density of hepatitis C virus RNA have been reported in different groups of patients, and have been attributed to differential binding of viral particles to β-lipoproteins and IgG, and the presence of hepatitis C virus nucleocapsids in circulation. It may be that hepatitis C virus density heterogeneity correlates with the severity of liver disease, hepatitis C virus RNA titre, and the immunocompetence of the patient. Methods and Results: We have analysed five immunodeficient patients (one with hypogammaglobulinaemia and selective IgA deficiency, one with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia, three with common variable immunodeficiency) who have been acutely infected with the same batch of intravenous immunoglobulin contaminated with hepatitis C virus (genotype 1a). The course of hepatitis C virus infection in these patients was compared to one immunocompetent patient who presented with acute hepatitis C virus and progressed to chronic disease, and seven immunocompetent patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum samples were analysed by differential flotation ultracentrifugation in NaCl solution (density 1.063 g/ml). The high and low density fractions were tested for the presence of RNA by RT-PCR. Serum samples were also quantified for hepatitis C virus RNA (Amplicor HCV Monitor kit, Roche Diagnostic Systems). Three quarters of the acutely infected patients analysed presented with low density hepatitis C virus. Low density hepatitis C virus was absent in most chronic infections but persisted in two patients with common variable immunodeficiency. High density hepatitis C virus was detected in the chronic phase in all acutely infected patients in whom the disease persisted, and was present in all samples from PCR-positive patients with chronic infection. Immunodeficient patients had significantly higher hepatitis C virus RNA titres on presentation than immunocompetent patients, but there was no correlation between titre and clinical course of infection. Conclusions: Heterogeneities in the buoyant density of hepatitis C virus RNA have been identified in the patient groups studied. Low density hepatitis C virus is detected more often in acute infection and high density hepatitis C virus is detected more often in chronic infection. Despite acute infection via the same route of infection with the same hepatitis C virus strain, the five immunodeficient patients studied all followed a different clinical course.
Author(s): Watson JP, Bevitt DJ, Spickett GP, Toms GL, Bassendine MF
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Hepatology
Year: 1996
Volume: 25
Issue: 5
Pages: 599-607
Print publication date: 01/11/1996
ISSN (print): 0168-8278
ISSN (electronic): 1600-0641
Publisher: Elsevier BV
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8278(96)80226-1
DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(96)80226-1
PubMed id: 8938533
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