Significant amounts of HCV RNA found in saliva of HIV-coinfected patients

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Significant amounts of HCV RNA found in saliva of HIV-coinfected patients

8th March, 2001

J Med Virol 2001;63:117-119 - Abstract - PDF (Acrobat Reader, subscr.

req.)

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) - Individuals infected with both HIV and hepatitis

C virus (HCV) often have significant amounts of the latter pathogen in their

saliva, according to a report published in the February issue of the Journal of

Medical Virology.

Dr. D. Rey, from Hopitaux Universitaires in Strasbourg, France, and colleagues

assessed the levels of HCV RNA in serum and saliva samples from 59 HIV-HCV

coinfected patients. Nested-PCR was used to detect the presence of HCV RNA and

positive results were then quantified with b-DNA analysis.

More than a third of patients had detectable levels of HCV RNA in their saliva

and the mean level was 1.15 million genome equivalents per milliliter, the

authors state. While age, immune status, and HIV risk group had no bearing on

salivary positivity, a significantly greater proportion of men than women had

detectable levels of HCV RNA in their saliva.

The researchers detected HCV RNA in the serum of 76.3% of patients and the mean

level was 25.2 million genome equivalents per milliliter. Serum positivity was

not influenced by the patient's age, gender, or CD4+ cell count.

There was no correlation between quantitative saliva and serum results, but

qualitative results did show a significant direct association, the investigators

note.

" To our knowledge, this study is the first to find significant amounts of HCV

RNA in saliva, " the authors point out. This " could have important implications

for hepatitis C epidemiology, as the origin of infection remains unknown in up

to 40% of cases. "

Copyright © 2000 Reuters Limited