Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: We studied the prevalence and clinical course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a group of 55 Norwegian patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia and investigated its association with the use of contaminated immune globulin. We used the polymerase chain reaction to detect HCV RNA and performed HCV genotyping. We also analyzed the responses to treatment with interferon. RESULTS: Of 20 patients who received the contaminated immune globulin, 17 were seropositive for HCV RNA: In addition, 1 of 35 patients not exposed to the contaminated immune globulin was HCV RNA--positive. HCV genotype V was found in all 12 patients for whom genotyping was performed, but 8 patients also had genotype II or III, or both. All HCV RNA--positive patients had abnormal results on biochemical liver tests. All liver-biopsy specimens (from 15 patients) were abnormal, with portal inflammation, bile-duct damage, and focal necrosis. In six patients there was cirrhosis. Two patients died of liver failure. In 4 of the 10 patients treated with interferon there were complete, though transient, biochemical responses, but the follow-up biopsy specimens showed evidence of histologic progression. The poorest responses to interferon were among the patients with multiple HCV genotypes. All but one patient remained positive for HCV RNA: CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | K Bjøro, S S Frøland, Z Yun, H H Samdal, T Haaland |
Journal | The New England journal of medicine
(N Engl J Med)
Vol. 331
Issue 24
Pg. 1607-11
(Dec 15 1994)
ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7526215
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Immunoglobulins
- Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
- Interferons
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Agammaglobulinemia
(therapy)
- Base Sequence
- Chronic Disease
- Drug Contamination
- Female
- Genotype
- Hepacivirus
(genetics, isolation & purification)
- Hepatitis C
(therapy, transmission, virology)
- Humans
- Immunocompromised Host
- Immunoglobulins
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
(adverse effects)
- Interferons
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA Viruses
(isolation & purification)
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