Discordance between HCV RNA assays for week 24 HCV RNA determination during pegylated interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C

Background: The development of more sensitive HCV RNA assays might necessitate re-evaluation of the rules for stopping treatment (for example, HCV RNA negativity at week 24 during treatment with pegylated interferon-αand ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C). The aim of this study was to assess discordance between the week 24 HCV RNA test results of two PCR-based assays (Amplicor and Taq- Man) and the transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) HCV RNA qualitative assay. Methods: A total of 89 week 24 samples that were negative using PCR-based assays during treatment were retested with the TMA qualitative assay to investigate discordance between tests results. All week 24 samples were HCV RNA negative by Amplicor or by TaqMan. Results: Of the 89 patients, 46 (52%) achieved sustained virological response (SVR). Viral breakthrough or relapse occurred in 43 patients (48%). All 89 HCV RNA negative week 24 samples were retested with the qualitative TMA assay. Eleven out of 89 samples had detectable HCV RNA (12%). All patients with detectable HCV RNA experienced breakthrough or relapse (negative predictive value 100%). Of the 78 patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 24 using the TMA assay, 46 achieved SVR. This resulted in a positive predictive value (PPV) of 59% for the TMA assay compared with a PPV of 52% for the PCR-based assays. Conclusions: All patients with detectable HCV RNA at week 24 using the TMA assay eventually relapsed. On the basis of these results, the use of this more sensitive HCV RNA assay could lead to the prevention of unnecessary treatment.

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