Serum HCV RNA titer does not predict the severity of liver damage in HCV carriers with normal aminotransferase levels

Many HCV RNA positive subjects with normal aminotransferase levels have significant liver damage despite normal liver biochemistry. In these patients it is not possible to discriminate between "healthy" carriers and subjects with chronic liver damage, unless liver biopsy is performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of HCV RNA quantitation as a non invasive tool to predict the severity of liver injury in a group of HCV carriers with normal amino-transferase levels.