Accurate quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is needed in clinical practice to decide whether to continue or stop pegylated interferon-alpha-ribavirin combination therapy at week 12 of treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Currently the HCV RNA quantification assay most widely used worldwide is the Amplicor HCV Monitor v2.0 assay (Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, Calif.). The HCV RNA extraction step can be automated in the Cobas Ampliprep device. In this work, we show that the dynamic range of HCV RNA quantification of the Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor v2.0 procedure is 600 to 200,000 HCV RNA IU/ml (2.8 to 5.3 log IU/ml), which does not cover the full range of HCV RNA levels in infected patients. Any sample containing more than 200,000 IU/ml (5.3 log IU/ml) must thus be retested after dilution for accurate quantification. These results emphasize the need for commercial HCV RNA quantification assays with a broader range of linear quantification, such as real-time PCR-based assays.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.43.4.1669-1673.2005 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Computing, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben Guerir, Morocco.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents a significant global health issue due to its widespread prevalence and the absence of a reliable vaccine for prevention. While significant progress has been achieved in therapeutic interventions since the disease was first identified, its resurgence underscores the need for innovative strategies to combat it. The nonstructural protein NS5A is crucial in the life cycle of the HCV, serving as a significant factor in both viral replication and assembly processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Virus Erad
December 2024
Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) represents a significant advancement, offering hope for eliminating the virus in diverse patient populations. But real-world data on its effectiveness and safety remains scarce for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in China, especially those with HCV GT3b, cirrhosis, hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC), or HCV/hepatitis B (HBV), HCV/HIV, or HCV/HBV/HIV coinfection.
Methods: In this real-world prospective observational study, we recruited patients from the West China Hospital and Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu in China.
AIDS Res Ther
December 2024
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Malattie Infettive, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italia.
Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is the imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant molecules, in favour of oxidants, that has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in ART-treated people living with HIV (PLWH). We aimed to assess factors associated with OS in virologically suppressed PLWH on long-term modern ART.
Method: In this cross-sectional study we evaluated OS by measuring both the levels of derivatives-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP).
J Gastrointestin Liver Dis
December 2024
Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Background And Aims: Pan-genotypic ribavirin-free oral direct-acting antivirals, including the glecaprevir/pibrentasvir combination, are recommended for the treatment of most patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In Romania, the HCV-infected patient population receiving glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is not well characterized and data on treatment effectiveness is lacking. The ODYSSEY study aimed to provide insights into the characteristics and treatment outcomes of HCV-infected Romanian patients receiving 8-week therapy with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Dis Ther
December 2024
Division of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Division of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519, Gdynia, Poland.
Introduction: Despite achieving sustained viral response (SVR) after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the risk of liver disease progression and extrahepatic complications in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains. We aimed to determine the role of residual HCV-RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), a condition known as occult hepatitis C (OCI), and systemic inflammatory markers as predictors of long-term outcomes in patients treated with DAAs.
Methods: We followed 42 patients treated with DAAs with OCI status determined after therapy, for a median of 6.
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