Antibody response to hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation

Objective: To determine whether liver transplantation and the subsequent immunosuppression affect the antibody response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: Sera from 46 patients were compared before and after liver transplantation for markers of HCV infection. Serum HCV RNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Anti-HCV antibody was determined by first- and second-generation immunoassays as well as a quantitative assay of the titer of antiHCV core antibody. Results: Among individuals who acquired hepatitis C infection in association with liver transplantation, only 15% (3)1 2) developed antibody to the core antigen and only 25% (3)12) reacted to any antigen present on the second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay after a mean follow-up period of 18 months