Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) is the absence of HCV RNA in serum and the presence of actively replicating HCV RNA in hepatocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as evidenced by the presence of antigenomic negative sense single-stranded RNA. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of OCI in Egyptian lymphoma patients and assess changes in biochemical parameters in patients with confirmed OCI. The current study was conducted on 100 apparently healthy subjects as control group and 100 patients with lymphoma as a case group. HCV RNA was extracted and detected in both plasma and PBMCs using qRT-PCR. Total protein, albumin, ALT, AST, and total and direct bilirubin were measured in serum. OCI was detected in 6% of the patient group. OCI patients had lower levels of total protein and serum albumin and higher ALT and AST compared with lymphoma patients without OCI. Our study revealed that six out of 100 patients with lymphoma disorders had occult HCV infection (6%). Therefore, the possibility of this infection should be considered in patients with lymphoma.
Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) is broadly described as the presence of HCV-RNA in hepatocytes and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in individuals who are HCV-RNA negative in serum by traditional diagnostic techniques. Based on the presence or absence of anti-HCV in serum, two forms of OCI are distinguished as seronegative (anti-HCV and serum HCV-RNA negative) and seropositive (anti-HCV positive and serum HCV-RNA negative). This review aims to estimate the global prevalence rate of OCI among a certain population in terms of disease epidemiology, method of transmission, infection pattern, progression, and treatment. Occult HCV infection is likely linked to liver fibrosis and disease progression. More research is needed to understand the infectivity of OCI patients and the natural course and particular clinical consequences of OCI. It will be interesting to know if direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications efficiently eliminate HCV RNA in PBMCs or hepatocytes. Finally, some effective OCI screening strategies are advised to target people at risk of HCV infection.
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