Hepatitis C Virus Structure and Diagnostic Methods

Abstract

In recent years, with the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the success rate has exceeded 90%. The implementation of these strong therapies has reduced the role of monitoring therapy with HCV RNA tests. The aim of this study is to compare the HCV core antigen test with HCV RNA in terms of correlation, effectiveness and cost in patients who started DAA and to evaluate the usability of HCV Ag as a routine laboratory test.This study includes 76 patients with CHC. Patients with positive HCV RNA, over 18 years old and who will initiate DAA are included. HCV Ag level was studied in all samples by using ARCHITECT core antigen measurement Abbott method. HCV RNA and anti-HCV levels compared with HCV Ag levels. When compared before and after treatment, HCV RNA level, HCV Ag level were found to be significantly different (p <0.001). Before treatment, HCV RNA and HCV Ag levels were found to be positive correlations (correlation coefficient:0,419). It has been demonstrated in the our study that HCV Ag measurement is a very successful and cost effective in detecting viremic patients and evaluating virological response, which are the two most important factors in the management of CHC.

Harnessing Nature’s Gifts:Salix nigraand Its Potential for Combating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

“…In Pakistan, the seroepidemiology of HCV among the general public is 6.8%, while 6% of the population was seen with active HCV infection . The HCV genome (∼9.6 kb in length) encodes a single large open reading frame, producing ∼3000 amino acid polypeptides that are co- and post-translationally cleaved by viral and host proteases into structural (Core, E1 & E2) and nonstructural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, NS5B) . The small protein p7, which is generated by cleavage and serves as an ion channel and viroporin, is thought to be present in the virion .…”