Aim: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a worldwide common virus that has an important role in the etiology of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV is a disease that causes different pathologies ranging from asymptomatic carriage to acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC. Serum ALT levels and Anti-HCV tests are routinely used in the diagnosis of HCV infection, but these tests have limitations. In this study, we aimed to investigate HCV-RNA levels in patients with chronic HCV infection who were anti-HCV positive and to establish a correlation with serum ALT levelsMaterials and

Methods: At Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Hospital, a total of 95 patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection that have not started any treatment, have been examined for serum ALT levels, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positivity, retrospectively.

Results: Of the 95 cases with anti-HCV-positive chronic hepatitis C infection, 60 (64%) had HCV-RNA positive results while 35 (36%) had negative and ALT was above 41 U / L (80%) in 76 cases, and <41 U / L in 19 cases (20%). Of the 60 patients with HCV-RNA positive, 89% had high ALT (p =0.05).

Conclusion: Anti-HCV is insufficient in the diagnosis of chronic HCV infection and follow-up of the disease. Even if the HCV infection is healed, its positivity continues. For this reason, in anti-HCV positive screened patients, HCV-RNA existance by PCR should be done for confirmation.