RNA-HCV viral load in serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver in children with chronic hepatitis C.

The liver is the major site of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and replication. However, HCV may infect and replicate in extrahepatic sites as well. Several investigators have demonstrated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are the major extrahepatic milieu of infection and viral replication. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between RNA-HCV level in serum. PBMCs and liver in children with chronic viral hepatitis C (CHC). The impact of RNA-HCV level on the sustained virological response (SVR) after therapy was also determined. Study was carried out in the group of 10 children with CHC, age 8 to 17 years. Antiviral therapy was implemented in all patients with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-lFNalpha) 2a or 2b and ribavirin during 48 weeks. The following tests were performed prior the therapy: basic laboratory parameters, histology of liver biopsy, RNA-HCV viral load in serum, PBMCs and in liver. The behavior of HCV-RNA viral load in serum, PBMCs and liver in children with CHC did not present strict mutual relations. However, the positive correlation between serum and PBMCs viral load (r = 0.47) and negative correlation between PBMCs and liver viral load (r = -0.47) was demonstrated. Although no statistically significant results were found, some trends of relationship in viral load between various body compartments were present. Given the aforementioned results, it is clear that more data are needed, mostly more numerous groups of patients, especially those whose influence of RNA-HCV viral load had a major impact on the antiviral treatment.