| Autor: |
Hsu, Henry H., Wright, Teresa L., Tsao, Su C., Combs, Connie, Donets, Mikhail, Feinstone, Stephen M., Greenberg, Harry B. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
American Journal of Gastroenterology (Springer Nature); Aug1994, Vol. 89 Issue 8, p1169-1174, 6p, 2 Charts |
| Abstrakt: |
Objective: To determine whether liver transplantation and the subsequent immunosuppression affect the antibody response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: Sera from 46 patients were compared before and after liver transplantation for markers of HCV infection. Serum HCV RNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Anti-HCV antibody was determined by first- and second-generation immunoassays as well as a quantitative assay of the titer of anti-HCV core antibody. Results: Among individuals who acquired hepatitis C infection in association with liver transplantation, only 15% (3/12) developed antibody to the core antigen and only 25% (3/12) reacted to any antigen present on the second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay after a mean follow-up period of 18 months. Thirty-eight percent (5/13) were positive, by the second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA-2). Whereas 94% (16/17) of the individuals who had detectable anti-HCV core antibodies pretransplant continued to have such antibodies after transplant, the titer of these antibodies declined an average of 4-fold. No significant change was seen in the antibody titer toward rotavirus, a common viral pathogen. Patients who acquired HCV infection or in whom the allograft became reinfected had a significantly increased incidence of posttransplant hepatitis (61% vs. 33%, respectively). Conclusions: Liver transplantation and posttransplant immunosuppression lead to an attenuated antibody response to hepatitis C viral infection. Currently available assays for anti-HCV antibodies may be unreliable in the posttransplant setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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