Click on the icon on the upper right hand side for the article by David Kershenobich, MD, PhD and Cristian Heinrich Henonin, MD, published in IMAJ.
IMAJ 2001; 3; May; 360-363
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, which has been classified into 6 major genotypes and over 100 subtypes. HCV replicates mainly in the hepatocyte. Recently, infectious HCV cDNA clones have been generated. Despite evidence that innate and adaptative humoral and cellular immune responses are activated as part of an antiviral defense, HCV has a remarkable ability to establish persistent infection. The analysis of viral kinetics using mathematical modeling shows a relative steady state without treatment, while an immediate biphasic HCV decline occurs in blood during successful treatment, the latter being predictive of clearance of HCV by the end of treatment.
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