In 1996 the prevalence, risk factors, and genotype distribu-subject (0.7%), type 2c in 66 subjects (44.6%), type 3a in 4 subjects (2.7%), and type 4 in two subjects (1.3%). These tion of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were assessed in the general population of a town in southern Italy. The sample figures differ from those of Italian patients with chronic liver disease in whom genotype 2 is more rare. None of the individwas selected from the census by a systematic 1:4 sampling procedure. The participation rate was 96.6%. Among the uals was infected with more than one genotype. The distribution of the two most common HCV viral types (1b and 2c) 1,352 subjects enrolled, 195 (14.4%) tested reactive to antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) with enzyme immunoassay (EIA was not statistically different in terms of mean age, sex, or risk factors and suggests that they may have had a parallel 3). When further tested with recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 3), 170 subjects (87.2%) tested positive, 23 subjects spread in this community. These findings provide one of the highest overall anti-HCV prevalence rates in a general popula-(11.8%) had indeterminate results, and 2 subjects (1%) tested negative. Thus, the overall anti-HCV EIA-positive RIBA-con-tion with a likely cohort effect, i.e., decreased risk of infection along generations. These observations may indicate an epifirmed prevalence was 12.6% (170 of 1,352 subjects) and increased from 1.3% in subjects younger than 30 years to demic or focus of hepatitis C that occurred several years earlier. The majority of anti-HCV-positive subjects in the 33.1% in those ¢60 years of age. This latter age group accounted for 72.3% of all anti-HCV-positive subjects. Females oldest age group and with no clinical evidence suggests that HCV infection is a very prolonged and indolent disease. tested positive more frequently than males (14.1% vs. 10.5%; P õ .05). Alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations were (HEPATOLOGY 1997;26:1006-1011.) abnormal in only 4.1% (7/170) of anti-HCV EIA-positive RIBA-confirmed subjects. This suggests that ALT screening Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a major is not useful in the detection of anti-HCV-positive subjects health problem in Italy. It has been found to be highly prevain a general population. The results of multiple logistic regreslent in subjects with chronic liver disease 1-2 and strongly sion analysis showed that an age of less than 45 years, the associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. 3-4use of glass syringes, and dental therapy were all independent General population surveys in different countries that depredictors of anti-HCV positivity. HCV RNA was detected by termined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies (antipolymerase chain reaction in 75.9% of the 195 anti-HCV EIA-HCV) have mainly consisted of voluntary or paid blood positive subjects: in 84.7% (144/170) of the RIBA-confirmed donors. Because these populations usually have special charsubjects; in 17.4% (4/23) tested as RIBA indeterminate; and acteristics regarding age, s...

In 1996 the prevalence, risk factors, and genotype distribu-subject (0.7%), type 2c in 66 subjects (44.6%), type 3a in 4 subjects (2.7%), and type 4 in two subjects (1.3%). These tion of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were assessed in the general population of a town in southern Italy. The sample figures differ from those of Italian patients with chronic liver disease in whom genotype 2 is more rare. None of the individwas selected from the census by a systematic 1:4 sampling procedure. The participation rate was 96.6%. Among the uals was infected with more than one genotype. The distribution of the two most common HCV viral types (1b and 2c) 1,352 subjects enrolled, 195 (14.4%) tested reactive to antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) with enzyme immunoassay (EIA was not statistically different in terms of mean age, sex, or risk factors and suggests that they may have had a parallel 3). When further tested with recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 3), 170 subjects (87.2%) tested positive, 23 subjects spread in this community. These findings provide one of the highest overall anti-HCV prevalence rates in a general popula-(11.8%) had indeterminate results, and 2 subjects (1%) tested negative. Thus, the overall anti-HCV EIA-positive RIBA-con-tion with a likely cohort effect, i.e., decreased risk of infection along generations. These observations may indicate an epifirmed prevalence was 12.6% (170 of 1,352 subjects) and increased from 1.3% in subjects younger than 30 years to demic or focus of hepatitis C that occurred several years earlier. The majority of anti-HCV-positive subjects in the 33.1% in those ¢60 years of age. This latter age group accounted for 72.3% of all anti-HCV-positive subjects. Females oldest age group and with no clinical evidence suggests that HCV infection is a very prolonged and indolent disease. tested positive more frequently than males (14.1% vs. 10.5%; P õ .05). Alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations were (HEPATOLOGY 1997;26:1006-1011.) abnormal in only 4.1% (7/170) of anti-HCV EIA-positive RIBA-confirmed subjects. This suggests that ALT screening Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a major is not useful in the detection of anti-HCV-positive subjects health problem in Italy. It has been found to be highly prevain a general population. The results of multiple logistic regreslent in subjects with chronic liver disease 1-2 and strongly sion analysis showed that an age of less than 45 years, the associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. 3-4 use of glass syringes, and dental therapy were all independent General population surveys in different countries that depredictors of anti-HCV positivity. HCV RNA was detected by termined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies (antipolymerase chain reaction in 75.9% of the 195 anti-HCV EIA-HCV) have mainly consisted of voluntary or paid blood positive subjects: in 84.7% (144/170) of the RIBA-confirmed donors. Because these populations usually have special charsubjects; in 17.4% (4/23) tested as RIBA indeterminate; and acteristics regarding age, ...

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