Detection of HCV-RNA in saliva of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Couzigou, P; Richard, L; Dumas, F; Schouler, L; Fleury, H · Gut · 1993

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Previous studies have provided conflicting results on the presence of hepatitis C virus-RNA in saliva. In this study, 23 (62%) of 37 patients tested positive for hepatitis C virus-RNA in saliva, using polymerase chain reaction analysis. A slightly greater proportion had a sporadic rather than a parenteral origin of chronic hepatitis C. These results provide a biological basis for saliva as a possible source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but do not necessarily imply transmission by this route.

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