[Clinical evaluation of hepatitis C virus RNA quantification by competitive reverse-transcription PCR]

We have quantified the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by competitive reverse-transcription PCR method (Amplicor) HCV quantification monitor kit) in sera with positive HCV antibody measured by means of the second generation HCV antibody assay. Among the visitors to PL Tokyo Health Control Center for their health examination and the patients to National Defense Medical College Hospital, 123 HCV antibody-positive cases were examined. A positive but low correlation between the amount of HCV-RNA and the titer of HCV antibody (r = 0.508, p value < 0.0001) was obtained. HCV-RNA was not detectable in 19 HCV antibody-positive cases. Among them, 10 cases showed normal ALT values. In the cases with more than 1000 copies/ml of HCV-RNA, the greater the amount of HCV-RNA the higher ALT values were observed, while the titer of HCV antibody was not correlated to ALT. This study demonstrated the dissociation and low correlation between HCV-RNA amount and antibody-titers in some patients, which may recommend direct quantification of RNA for clinical evaluation of the patients with positive-HCV antibody. The quantification of HCV-RNA by such rapid and simple methods can be applicable for the determination of HCV-RNA amount in routine laboratory works.