Assessment of correlation between serum titers of hepatitis C virus and severity of liver disease

[Guest guest]

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Aug 15;10(16):2409-11.

Assessment of correlation between serum titers of hepatitis c virus and severity

of liver disease.

Anand BS, Velez M.

Digestive Diseases Section (111D), VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ana0@...

AIM: The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers has been examined

in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a

lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to

those with higher levels. Moreover, a direct association has been observed

between serum titers of HCV and transmission rates of the virus. The aim of the

present study was to determine if there was any correlation between HCV viral

load and the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with HCV

infection were included in the study. These comprised of 34 subjects with a

history of alcohol use and 16 non-alcoholics. Quantitative serum HCV RNA assay

was carried out using the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. Linear regression

analysis was performed between serum viral titers and liver tests. In addition,

for the purpose of comparison, the subjects were divided into two groups: those

with low viral titers (<=50 genome mEq/mL) and high titers (>50

mEq/mL). RESULTS: All subjects were men, with a mean+/-SD age of 47+/-7.8

years. The mean HCV RNA level in the blood was 76.3X10(5)+/-109.1 genome

equivalents/mL. There was no correlation between HCV RNA levels and age of the

patients (r = 0.181), and the history or amount (g/d) of alcohol consumption (r

= 0.07). Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum HCV RNA levels

and the severity of liver disease as judged by the values of serum albumin (r =

0.175), bilirubin (r = 0.217), ALT (r = 0.06) and AST (r = 0.004) levels.

Similarly, no significant difference was observed between patients with low

viral titers and high titers with respect to any of the parameters. CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that the severity of liver disease is independent of serum

levels of hepatitis C virus. These findings are important since they have a

direct impact on the current debate regarding the role of direct cytopathic

effect of hepatitis C virus versus immune-mediated injury in the

pathogenesis of HCV-related liver damage.

[Guest guest]

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Aug 15;10(16):2409-11.

Assessment of correlation between serum titers of hepatitis c virus and severity

of liver disease.

Anand BS, Velez M.

Digestive Diseases Section (111D), VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ana0@...

AIM: The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers has been examined

in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a

lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to

those with higher levels. Moreover, a direct association has been observed

between serum titers of HCV and transmission rates of the virus. The aim of the

present study was to determine if there was any correlation between HCV viral

load and the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with HCV

infection were included in the study. These comprised of 34 subjects with a

history of alcohol use and 16 non-alcoholics. Quantitative serum HCV RNA assay

was carried out using the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. Linear regression

analysis was performed between serum viral titers and liver tests. In addition,

for the purpose of comparison, the subjects were divided into two groups: those

with low viral titers (<=50 genome mEq/mL) and high titers (>50

mEq/mL). RESULTS: All subjects were men, with a mean+/-SD age of 47+/-7.8

years. The mean HCV RNA level in the blood was 76.3X10(5)+/-109.1 genome

equivalents/mL. There was no correlation between HCV RNA levels and age of the

patients (r = 0.181), and the history or amount (g/d) of alcohol consumption (r

= 0.07). Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum HCV RNA levels

and the severity of liver disease as judged by the values of serum albumin (r =

0.175), bilirubin (r = 0.217), ALT (r = 0.06) and AST (r = 0.004) levels.

Similarly, no significant difference was observed between patients with low

viral titers and high titers with respect to any of the parameters. CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that the severity of liver disease is independent of serum

levels of hepatitis C virus. These findings are important since they have a

direct impact on the current debate regarding the role of direct cytopathic

effect of hepatitis C virus versus immune-mediated injury in the

pathogenesis of HCV-related liver damage.

[Guest guest]

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Aug 15;10(16):2409-11.

Assessment of correlation between serum titers of hepatitis c virus and severity

of liver disease.

Anand BS, Velez M.

Digestive Diseases Section (111D), VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ana0@...

AIM: The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers has been examined

in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a

lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to

those with higher levels. Moreover, a direct association has been observed

between serum titers of HCV and transmission rates of the virus. The aim of the

present study was to determine if there was any correlation between HCV viral

load and the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with HCV

infection were included in the study. These comprised of 34 subjects with a

history of alcohol use and 16 non-alcoholics. Quantitative serum HCV RNA assay

was carried out using the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. Linear regression

analysis was performed between serum viral titers and liver tests. In addition,

for the purpose of comparison, the subjects were divided into two groups: those

with low viral titers (<=50 genome mEq/mL) and high titers (>50

mEq/mL). RESULTS: All subjects were men, with a mean+/-SD age of 47+/-7.8

years. The mean HCV RNA level in the blood was 76.3X10(5)+/-109.1 genome

equivalents/mL. There was no correlation between HCV RNA levels and age of the

patients (r = 0.181), and the history or amount (g/d) of alcohol consumption (r

= 0.07). Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum HCV RNA levels

and the severity of liver disease as judged by the values of serum albumin (r =

0.175), bilirubin (r = 0.217), ALT (r = 0.06) and AST (r = 0.004) levels.

Similarly, no significant difference was observed between patients with low

viral titers and high titers with respect to any of the parameters. CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that the severity of liver disease is independent of serum

levels of hepatitis C virus. These findings are important since they have a

direct impact on the current debate regarding the role of direct cytopathic

effect of hepatitis C virus versus immune-mediated injury in the

pathogenesis of HCV-related liver damage.

[Guest guest]

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Aug 15;10(16):2409-11.

Assessment of correlation between serum titers of hepatitis c virus and severity

of liver disease.

Anand BS, Velez M.

Digestive Diseases Section (111D), VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ana0@...

AIM: The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers has been examined

in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a

lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to

those with higher levels. Moreover, a direct association has been observed

between serum titers of HCV and transmission rates of the virus. The aim of the

present study was to determine if there was any correlation between HCV viral

load and the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with HCV

infection were included in the study. These comprised of 34 subjects with a

history of alcohol use and 16 non-alcoholics. Quantitative serum HCV RNA assay

was carried out using the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. Linear regression

analysis was performed between serum viral titers and liver tests. In addition,

for the purpose of comparison, the subjects were divided into two groups: those

with low viral titers (<=50 genome mEq/mL) and high titers (>50

mEq/mL). RESULTS: All subjects were men, with a mean+/-SD age of 47+/-7.8

years. The mean HCV RNA level in the blood was 76.3X10(5)+/-109.1 genome

equivalents/mL. There was no correlation between HCV RNA levels and age of the

patients (r = 0.181), and the history or amount (g/d) of alcohol consumption (r

= 0.07). Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum HCV RNA levels

and the severity of liver disease as judged by the values of serum albumin (r =

0.175), bilirubin (r = 0.217), ALT (r = 0.06) and AST (r = 0.004) levels.

Similarly, no significant difference was observed between patients with low

viral titers and high titers with respect to any of the parameters. CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that the severity of liver disease is independent of serum

levels of hepatitis C virus. These findings are important since they have a

direct impact on the current debate regarding the role of direct cytopathic

effect of hepatitis C virus versus immune-mediated injury in the

pathogenesis of HCV-related liver damage.