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Clinical evaluation of the antibody against core protein of hepatitis C virus
S Ohkoshi1, M Watanabe, K Kuwana
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Japan.
Insights
Antibody against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein (anti-core) is a reliable marker for HCV replication. Anti-core detection is closely associated with HCV RNA presence in patients with acute or chronic hepatitis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant global health concern.
- Accurate diagnostic markers are crucial for managing HCV infection.
- Previous assays like anti-C100-3 have been used, but the utility of anti-core antibody requires further characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and characterize the antibody against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein (anti-core).
- To compare the diagnostic performance of anti-core antibody with the anti-C100-3 assay.
- To assess the association of anti-core antibody with HCV RNA detection and viral replication.
Main Methods:
- Antibody against HCV core protein (anti-core) and anti-C100-3 were measured in patients with acute/chronic hepatitis and healthy donors.
- HCV RNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess viral persistence.
- Patients with past post-transfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis were examined for anti-core and anti-C100-3 presence.
Main Results:
- Anti-core antibody was detected in 85.2% of chronic hepatitis patients, compared to 74.2% for anti-C100-3.
- In patients with past acute hepatitis, 82% were positive for anti-core, with 73% also having detectable HCV RNA.
- A small percentage (0.4%) of healthy blood donors negative for anti-C100-3 were anti-core positive; transfusing this blood led to hepatitis C.
Conclusions:
- Anti-core antibody is a sensitive and reliable marker for detecting hepatitis C virus infection.
- The presence of anti-core antibody is strongly correlated with active HCV RNA replication.
- Anti-core antibody testing offers a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring HCV infection, particularly in conjunction with HCV RNA detection.
Abstract:
The authors measured antibody against the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with acute or chronic hepatitis and healthy blood donors, and compared the results with the one obtained from anti-C100-3 assay. To characterize this antibody (anti-core), we also examined the patients with past posttransfusional acute non-A, non-B hepatitis and investigated how frequently viraemia of HCV persisted after the acute phase of hepatitis detecting HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Anti-core was detected in 109/128 (85.2%) of patients with chronic hepatitis and the detection rate of anti-C100-3 was 95/128 (74.2%), respectively. Twenty seven of 33 (82%) patients with past postransfusional acute hepatitis were still positive for anti-core concomitant with the presence of anti-C100-3, having accompanied the presence of HCV RNA in 24/33 (73%). Eight of 2,020 (0.4%) healthy blood donors who were negative for anti-C100-3 were anti-core-positive, and all 5 patients transfused with this anti-core positive blood suffered from posttransfusion hepatitis C. Thus, anti-core antibody was closely associated with the presence of HCV RNA and considered to be a reliable marker of the virus replication.