Platelets as an Extra-Hepatic Reservoir of Hepatitis C Virus RNA: A Prospective Study
Introduction: In the era of Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA), elimination of HCV is possible but persistence in extra hepatic sites is hindrance. Detection of HCV has been reported in platelets, however its impact on DAA therapy not been studied. Aim: Detection and quantification of HCV RNA from th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2018-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/12336/36491_CE[Ra]_F(P)_PF1(AGAK)_PFA(AK)_PB(AG_SL)_PN(SL).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: In the era of Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA),
elimination of HCV is possible but persistence in extra hepatic
sites is hindrance. Detection of HCV has been reported in
platelets, however its impact on DAA therapy not been studied.
Aim: Detection and quantification of HCV RNA from the platelets
and to compare with parallel plasma levels.
Materials and Methods: Whole blood collected from 62 chronic
HCV infected patients. HCV RNA quantitation was done from
paired plasma and platelet pool at baseline using commercial
real time PCR assay (Abbott).
Correlation calculated by Bland-Altman analysis. Bivariate
association and p-value calculated using chi-square tests.
Results: A total of 45 patients were viremic while 17 were nonviremic. Median plasma viral load was log105.7 (IQR: log103.55-
6.7) IU/mL, median platelet viral load was log104.13 (IQR: log100-
5.5) IU/mL. Genotype (GT) 3 (66.6%) was commonest followed
by GT 1 (33.3%). Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) was
attained in 39/45 patients (92.8%) patients while 3/45 patients
(6.67%) were non-responders. Viral load at baseline in platelet
pool was higher in non-responders when compared to those
achieved SVR (median log104.46 vs. log103.27, p=0.456).
Conclusion: HCV-RNA was efficiently detected in platelets.
Persistence in platelets could be one of the factors associated
with treatment failure. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |