Hepatitis C, table 1, Hepatitis C Virus RNA Profilesin Chronically Infected Individuals: Do They Relate to DiseaseActivity?

Hepatitis C Virus RNA Profiles in Chronically Infected Individuals: Do They Relate to Disease Activity?

Table 1. Histological Features Observed in Chronic HCV Patients in Relation to Transaminase Profile and Viremia Levels

	Minimal Changes	Mild CH	Moderate CH	Severe CH	P

ALT pattern over 12 months
Normal ALT	3	15	5	0	.012
Fluctuating	0	10	15	1
HCV-RNA fluctuations
< 0.5 Log	3/3	3/15	3/12	0	NS
0.5 Log	0	12/15	9/12	1/1

NOTE. represents the difference between the maximum and minimum value of HCV RNA measured over time in each individual patient. 0.5 Log is considered the cut-off for the intrinsic variability of the assay. Abbreviations: CH, chronic hepatitis; NS, not significant.