Haemophilic patients with hepatitis C have higher viral load compared to other well‐defined patient groups

Abstract

Comparison of hepatitis C viral load between different patient populations has been hampered by the use of different technology in individual studies. We had the impression that haemophilic (HAEM) patients had a higher serum load of hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared to other HCV-infected patients. We therefore studied viral load and genotypes in active illicit drug users (IDU), HAEM patients and patients with post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH). The study comprises 225 HCV-RNA positive patients, 117 IDU, 60 HAEM patients and 48 PTH patients. All patients were anti-HIV negative. HCV-RNA was measured with a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, HCV-genotypes were determined with genotype specific primers in RT-PCR in 221 patients. Four patients could not be genotyped with our assay and were excluded. Overall viral load was higher in genotypes 1 and 2 compared to genotype 3, median values of HCV-RNA were 1,400 x 10(3) geq ml(-1), 2,700 x 10(3) geq ml(-1) and 270 x 10(3) geq ml(-1), respectively. HAEM patients had significantly higher viral load for both genotypes 1 and 3 compared to the IDU and PTH patients. In a multiple linear regression model HCV-RNA viral load was independently associated with HAEM and genotype, but not to age, gender or disease duration. In conclusion, HAEM patients have higher viral load than IDU and PTH patients. The reason for this is unknown, but it may be due to host factors or mode of transmission with multiple inoculations.

Human leukocyte antigen phenotypes and hepatitis C viral load

“…It has been reported that HCV-RNA viral load was independently associated with haemophilic patients and genotype, but not to age, gender or disease duration (Krarup et al, 2000). We have also found that HCV-RNA viral load was not associated with age, gender, or mixed infection (Table 1).…”

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection: Intraindividual Comparison of Cellular Immune Responses against Two Persistent Viruses

“…Relatively rapid progression of HCV-mediated liver disease has been described in individuals with HIV-1-related immunodeficiency (21,47,53,54). There is also increasing evidence that infection with each of these viruses can alter the course of infection of the other virus (14,22,33), which has been hypothesized to be due to influences on immune responses. In coinfected individuals, HCV viral loads tend to be higher than in those infected with HCV alone (33).…”

“…There is also increasing evidence that infection with each of these viruses can alter the course of infection of the other virus (14,22,33), which has been hypothesized to be due to influences on immune responses. In coinfected individuals, HCV viral loads tend to be higher than in those infected with HCV alone (33). Conversely, acute HCV infection can raise HIV-1 viremia in persons with otherwise well-controlled illness, and coinfection with HCV may accelerate progression from HIV-1 infection to AIDS (22).…”

Viral hepatitis in Denmark

“…The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies among 4 drug users has been reported to be between 62% and 97% (19)(20)(21)(22). Patients with hemophilia, patients undergoing hemodialysis, multi-transfused patients and patients originating from high endemic areas also have an increased prevalence of HCV infection (20,23). Seroprevalence surveys of the general population are the gold standard for determining the number of HCV-infected individuals within a country.…”