Persistence of hepatitis C virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients who achieved sustained virological response following treatment with direct-acting antivirals is associated with a distinct pre-existing immune exhaustion status.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primary hepatotropic pathogen responsible for acute and chronic hepatitis C, however, it can also cause "occult" infection (OCI), defined as the presence of the virus' genetic material in hepatocytes and/or peripheral blood cells, but not in plasma/serum. Assessment of the sustained virologic response (SVR) after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) is based exclusively on HCV-RNA testing in plasma/serum, which may preclude the diagnosis of post-treatment OCI. Possible clinical consequences of OCI were described previously, but its occurrence after DAA-based antiviral treatment programs and determinants of the virus persistence are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of post-treatment OCI after successful DAA-based t

SUBMITTER: Osuch S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12144158 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature