Table 4.

 Hepatitis C virus (HCV) titres in the same individuals at baseline and after a period of abstinence

Author	Subject No	Method	Duration of abstinence	Viral titres		p Value
				Baseline	Abstinence
Takase13	9	PCR	Unclear	NA	NA	HCV−ve in 4 of 8
Sawada21	11	bDNA	4 weeks	NA	NA	HCV fell in 5 of 11
Cromie23	12	PCR	4.4 (0.2) mo	NA	NA	0.035
Sata24	24	bDNA	30–90 days	16.5×10	2.84×10	0.01
Anand28	3	bDNA	6 mo	108 (111.3)	98 (78.7)	NS

Statistical analysis of the combined studies was not possible because none of the studies provided the mean and SD of change in viral load for individual subjects at baseline and after abstinence.

bDNA, branched DNA technique. bDNA results expressed as viral mEq/ml.

PCR, polymerase chain reaction assay; NA, not available; mo, months.