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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Detection of occult hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections from peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Hosam Zaghloul1, Walid El-Sherbiny
1Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Gomhoria st, Mansoura, Egypt. hosam_z@yahoo.com
Insights
Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections can be detected in the blood cells of patients with unexplained abnormal liver function tests. Residual HCV RNA in blood cells may indicate ongoing infection in patients with sustained virological response.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Persistent abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) of unknown etiology pose a diagnostic challenge.
- Occult infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are increasingly recognized.
- Sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C patients may not always equate to complete viral eradication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate occult HCV and HBV infections in patients with persistently abnormal LFTs of unknown origin.
- To assess the presence of occult HCV in patients who have achieved SVR after treatment.
Main Methods:
- The study involved two groups: 40 patients with abnormal LFTs and 62 patients with a history of HCV and SVR.
- HCV RNA was quantified in serum and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) using RT-PCR and real-time PCR.
- HBV DNA was tested in PBMCs for the first group.
Main Results:
- HCV RNA was detected in PBMCs of 4 patients with abnormal LFTs and elevated liver enzymes.
- HBV DNA was detected in PBMCs of 3 patients within the abnormal LFTs group.
- HCV RNA was found in PBMCs of 7 patients who had achieved SVR.
Conclusions:
- Occult HCV RNA or HBV DNA may be present in PBMCs of patients with unexplained abnormal LFTs, even without detectable antibodies or serum viral markers.
- Detecting HCV RNA in PBMCs is recommended for patients with SVR, particularly those with high pre-treatment serum HCV RNA levels, to identify residual infection.
Purpose:
To investigate the problem of occult HCV & HBV infections in patients with persistently longstanding abnormal liver function test results of unknown etiology and to investigate occult HCV in patients with sustained virological response (SVR).
Methods:
The study included two groups; first group included 40 patients with persistently longstanding abnormal liver function test, in addition to 62 patients with history of hepatitis C who developed SVR. HCV RNA status was tested in serum by conventional RT-PCR and by real-time PCR in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). HBV DNA in PBMCs was done in first group only.
Results:
In first group, PCR in PBMCs was positive for HCV RNA in 4 patients with elevated liver enzymes and HBV DNA was positive in PBMCs in 3 patients. In patients with SVR, 7 patients were positive for HCV RNA in PBMCs.
Conclusions:
Patients with long-standing abnormal results of liver-function tests with unknown etiology may have HCV RNA or HBV DNA in their PBMCs in the absence of anti-HCV antibodies, HBV markers, serum HBV DNA and serum HCV RNA.In Patients with SVR, HCV RNA in PBMCs is recommended to detect residual infection especially in those with high serum HCV RNA levels before treatment.
