METHOD FOR THE PROGNOSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF A HEPATITIS C VIRAL INFECTION AND KIT FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME

摘要

A method for the prognosis of the evolution of a hepatitis C viral infection towards an aggressive chronic condition in an already infected subject with a normal transaminase rate includes searching for antibodies against the hepatitis C virus, wherein the search is conducted only for antibodies against the protein NS5 and not for antibodies against other proteins of the virus. If anti-NS5 antibodies are present, a risk of evolution towards an aggressive chronic condition is determined, and an early antiviral and/or immunopotentiating treatment can be prescribed. A kit for implementing said prognosis method is also described, which contains, as the only reagent capable of being recognised by the antibodies against a hepatitis C virus protein, a reagent specifically recognised by anti-NS5 antibodies and not by antibodies against other proteins of the hepatitis C virus.