Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in bile.

Abstract

The infectivity of bile in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains to be clarified. The purpose of this study was to document the detection of HCV-RNA in bile of patients with HCV infection. Bile and serum samples were tested for HCV RNA by a two-step polymerase chain reaction technique in 12 patients with HCV infection. HCV-RNA was detected in the serum of all 12 patients, whereas 6 of 12 bile samples (50%) tested positive. Comparison of laboratory data between patients with and without HCV-RNA in bile demonstrated statistically higher serum total bilirubin among those with positive bile HCV RNA than those without, but other clinical and biochemical variables as well as hepatitis activity scores were comparable between the two groups. Bile of HCV antibody-positive patients could be infectious.