Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Viremia in Human Immunodeficiency VirusSeronegative and -Seropositive Patients with Indeterminate HCV Recombinant Immunoblot Assay

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Abstract
Positivity of recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) for detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCY) is usually associated with HCY viremia. The significanceof an indeterminate RIBA result, defined by reactivity to only one HCY antigen, is unclear. Whether anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIY)-negative or -positive subjects with an indeterminate RIBA have HCY viremia detectable by polymerase chain reaction was investigated. An indeterminate RIBA was found in 48 (15%) of 318 anti-HIY-negative and 38 (23%) of 167 anti-HIY-positive subjects (P < .05). Clinical stage was IY-C-l or IY-C-2 in 82% of those anti-HIY-positives. HCY viremia was found more frequently in anti-HIY-positive (89%) than in anti-HIY-negative subjects (50%) with an indeterminate RIBA (P < ,05). These results suggest an impaired anti-HCY response associated with HIY infection.