TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of the quantity of hepatitis C virus RNA
AU - Thomas, David L.
AU - Astemborski, Jacquie
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
AU - Ray, Stuart C.
AU - Nelson, Kenrad E.
AU - Galai, Noya
AU - Nolt, Karen R.
AU - Laeyendecker, Oliver
AU - Todd, John A.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - To test the hypothesis that person-to-person variability in blood levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA can be explained, the quantity of HCV RNA was assessed in 969 persons who acquired HCV infection in the context of injection drug use. Serum HCV RNA levels ranged from 200,000 to >120 million equivalents/mL (the linear range of the assay). The median log10 HCV RNA level was 0.46 higher in 468 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons than in 501 HIV-negative persons (P < .001). In addition, among HIV- negative persons, lower HCV RNA levels were independently associated with younger age (P < .001), ongoing hepatitis B infection (P = .005), and the absence of needle sharing (P = .02). However, >90% of the person-to-person HCV RNA level variability was not explained by these sociodemographic, environmental, and virologic factors. Additional research is necessary to ascertain what determines the level of HCV RNA in blood.
AB - To test the hypothesis that person-to-person variability in blood levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA can be explained, the quantity of HCV RNA was assessed in 969 persons who acquired HCV infection in the context of injection drug use. Serum HCV RNA levels ranged from 200,000 to >120 million equivalents/mL (the linear range of the assay). The median log10 HCV RNA level was 0.46 higher in 468 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons than in 501 HIV-negative persons (P < .001). In addition, among HIV- negative persons, lower HCV RNA levels were independently associated with younger age (P < .001), ongoing hepatitis B infection (P = .005), and the absence of needle sharing (P = .02). However, >90% of the person-to-person HCV RNA level variability was not explained by these sociodemographic, environmental, and virologic factors. Additional research is necessary to ascertain what determines the level of HCV RNA in blood.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034031613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/315314
DO - 10.1086/315314
M3 - Article
C2 - 10720503
AN - SCOPUS:0034031613
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 181
SP - 844
EP - 851
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 3
ER -
