Resumen

CORTES-MANCERA, Fabián M et al. Occult hepatitis C virus infection in a re-transplanted patient with liver failure of unknown etiology. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2010, vol.25, n.1, pp. 76-85. ISSN 0120-9957.

A new clinical scenario called Occult Hepatitis C Virus infection has been recently described (HCV-Oc); it can only be characterized by molecular analysis, due that serological marker by ELISA are not detected. The aim of the present study was to identify the Hepatitis C Virus infection in a patient re-transplanted by hepatic failure of unknown etiology. For this, RNA obtained from different sources (Liver tissue, serum, plasma and buffy coat) was assessed by a RT-PCR protocol that specifically targeted the HCV 5’UTR, showing the presence of HCV genome just in liver tissue explants. When viral sequences were analyzed, the strains belonged to HCV genotype 1a. Our study corresponds to the first report in the world of HCV-Oc due to HCV genotype 1a, in liver re-transplantation context. We recommend having in mind this new clinical scenario into the differential diagnosis of patients with cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and/or hepatic failure of unknown etiology.

Palabras llave : Hepatic failure; Occult hepatitis C virus; Genotype; RT-PCR.