A 48-year-old man with chronic HCV (genotype 1a, F4 cirrhosis) achieves SVR12 after DAA therapy. Two years later, he presents with an HCV RNA of

Question

A 48-year-old man with chronic HCV (genotype 1a, F4 cirrhosis) achieves SVR12 after DAA therapy. Two years later, he presents with an HCV RNA of 15,000 IU/mL. He denies any risk factors for re-infection. What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

Reinfection with the same or different HCV strain rather than relapse; phylogenetic analysis can distinguish

Answer

Occult HCV infection unmasked by liver disease progression

Answer

Laboratory error

Answer

Late virological relapse from the original infection

Answer

Spontaneous viral reactivation from hepatocyte reservoirs

Hepatitis C — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

A 48-year-old man with chronic HCV (genotype 1a, F4 cirrhosis) achieves SVR12 after DAA therapy. Two years later, he presents with an HCV RNA of 15,000 IU/mL. He denies any risk factors for re-infection. What is the most likely explanation?