[Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in the liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma by means of in situ RT-PCR].

The in situ RT-CPR technique has been first adapted in Russia to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HC). A total of 18 patients with CHC and HC were examined. Fourteen (78%) samples were ascertained to be positive. A positive reaction was found in 2 of 3 patients with HC. A label was revealed in individual hepatocytes without any regularity in the distribution along the tissue section. A reaction was negative in all samples from control groups. The label was observed in both the cytoplasm and the hepatocytic nuclei. There was no correlation between the degree of hepatic lesion, estimated after Knodelle, the results of the classical RT-CPR and the in situ RT-CPR techniques.