Hepatitis C antibody prevalence in blood donors in different governorates in Egypt

Arthur, Ray R.; Hassan, Nassef F.; Abdallah, Mahasan Yousef; El-Sharkawy, Mohamed S.; Saad, Magdy Darwish; Hackbart, Barbara G.; Imam, Imam Zaghloul

doi:10.1016/s0035-9203(97)90070-5

Cited by 110 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…These data are concordant with the findings of other community-based studies in the Nile delta that have indicated that this region of Egypt has among the highest levels of seroprevalence of HCV in the world. [1][2][3][4]17,18 Indeed, if as seems plausible, 17,18 the high seroprevalence of HCV is relatively uniformly distributed throughout the Nile delta, the 40% seroprevalence of HCV among persons aged ten years and over in Kalama would translate into approximately eight million HCV-infected Nile delta residents in this age group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Hepatitis c and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: a community-based study.

Darwish¹,

Faris²,

Darwish³

et al. 2001

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Residents of Egypt's Nile river delta have among the world's highest seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To assess the impact of HCV on chronic liver disease, we studied the association between HCV, other hepatitis viruses, and cirrhotic liver disease in a cross-sectional, community-based survey of 801 persons aged Ն 10 years living in a semi-urban, Nile delta village. Residents were systematically sampled using questionnaires, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography and serologically for antibodies to HCV (confirmed by a thirdgeneration immunoblot assay) and to hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). The seroprevalence of HCV increased with age from 19% in persons 10-19 years old to about 60% in persons 30 years and older. Although no practices that might facilitate HCV transmission were discovered, the seroprevalence of HCV was significantly associated with remote (Ͼ 1 year) histories of schistosomiasis. Sonographic evidence of cirrhosis was present in 3% (95% CI: 1%, 4%) of the population (0.7% of persons under 30 years of age and in 5% of older persons), and was significantly associated with HCV seroreactivity. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that past mass parenteral chemotherapy campaigns for schistosomiasis facilitated HCV transmission, and that HCV may be a major cause of the high prevalence of liver cirrhosis in this Nile village.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[20][21][22] However, despite recognition of the extremely high seroprevalence of HCV in the Nile delta and the Nile river valley south of Cairo, 17 little is known about the relationship between HCV and cirrhosis in this setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis c and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: a community-based study.

Darwish¹,

Faris²,

Darwish³

et al. 2001

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…14,19,22 Now that HCV has become highly prevalent in Egypt, its spread apparently continues via poorly understood parenteral routes, as suggested by Quinty and others. 42 Although blood banks in Egypt started to screen for HCV in 1993, 13 blood transfusion is still a major risk factor for acquiring HCV infection, since blood donated for transfusion is commonly supplied by relatives of patients rather than blood banks. Surgical treatment with contaminated equipment may represent another major risk factor, because all hospitals may not disinfect their equipment properly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 Other groups thereafter found HCV seroprevalence rates ranging from 6% to 38% with an average of approximately 15%. [12][13][14][15][16] The reasons behind these high HCV infection rates being 5-35-fold higher than reported elsewhere in the world are still unknown. In Egypt, the HCV seroprevalence was 55% among children who had received blood transfusions and 67% among patients receiving renal dialysis, whereas the HCV seroprevalence was 10% among sexually transmitted disease patients and even lower among children who had never received blood transfusions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptians with and without a history of hepatitis B virus infection: association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but not with (HCV) RNA level.

Yates

Hafez²,

Beld³

et al. 1999

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egypt, using hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) as virus controls. In addition, the association of HCC with HCV RNA levels among persons seropositive for HCV was analyzed. We compared 131 patients with proven HCC, 247 with bladder cancer, and 466 healthy hospital employees. Age, sex, and place of residence were recorded to study confounding factors. Among the healthy controls, 16% were seropositive for HCV, 21% for HBV, and 31% for HEV. When healthy controls were age-matched with HCC patients, the latter were significantly (P Ͻ 0.001) more often HCV seropositive (67%) than were the controls (30%). The seropositivity for HBV and HEV did not differ significantly in frequency between the two groups. The seropositivity for HCV was also significantly (P Ͻ 0.001) more often found in HCC patients (76%) than in BC patients (47%), with seroprevalences for HBV and HEV not differing significantly in these age-matched groups. In HBV-negative HCC and bladder cancer patients, seroprevalence for HCV was significantly (P ϭ 0.002) higher in HCC patients (68%) than in bladder cancer patients (36%). This difference was even more pronounced (P Ͻ 0.001) in HBV-positive HCC and bladder cancer patients (78% versus 52%, respectively). Of HCV-seropositive individuals, 49% were HCV RNA positive by branched DNA assay, and of these, 96% were infected by HCV genotype 4. No correlation between HCV RNA load and seropositivity of HBV or age or disease state was found. Infection with HCV and HCV-HBV double infection, but not HBV or HEV infection alone, is strongly correlated with HCC in Egypt.Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes more than 90% of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B (NANBH) hepatitis.1-4 In more than 85% of HCV infections, the infection persists and leads to chronic hepatitis. 4,5 Once chronic hepatitis is established, it may slowly progress to worsening stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis and ultimately lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 1,[6][7][8] In the first two decades after acute HCV infection, both mortality and morbidity remain modest in frequency, but after this period both can be expected to increase.1,2 Infection with HCV is widely recognized as the most common indication for liver transplantation 9 in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Although no firm data are available, death rates for HCC in Egypt appear to be increasing over the last decade. 10,11 Hepatitis virus infections of any kind are highly prevalent in the general population. The relatively high prevalence of HCV infections in Egypt was first established in 1992 by Kamel and others. 12 Other groups thereafter found HCV seroprevalence rates ranging from 6% to 38% with an average of approximately 15%. [12][13][14][15][16] The reasons behind these high HCV infection rates being 5-35-fold higher than reported elsewhere in the world are still unknown. In Egypt, the HCV seroprevalence was 55% among ...

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“…HCV infection is more common among adults, males, those with a history of schistosomiasis, and those living in rural communities of Lower Egypt. 8,12,14 However, the epidemiologic and biologic basis for HCV transmission in Egypt is not known. A community cohort was established in a rural, schistosomiasis-endemic area of the Lower Nile Delta to further study HCV infection in rural Egypt.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in a community in the nile delta: Population description and HCV prevalence

Abdel-Aziz¹,

Habib²,

Mostafa³

et al. 2000

Hepatology

218

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This report describes a cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in a rural Egyptian community in the Nile Delta. One half of the village households were systematically selected and examined by questionnaire and testing sera for anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Blood samples were obtained from 3,888 (75.4%) of 5,156 residents H5 years of age; an additional 111 samples were obtained from children younger than 5 years. Overall, 973 (24.3%) of 3,999 residents were anti-HCVpositive, and the age-and gender-adjusted seroprevalence was 23.7%. Anti-HCV prevalence increased sharply with age, from 9.3% in those 20 years of age and younger to G50% in those older than 35 years. Currently or previously married individuals were more likely to be seropositive than those never married, controlling for age (Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio ‫؍‬ 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.6). Of the 905 anti-HCV-positive samples tested, 65% were also positive for HCV RNA. Active schistosomal infection was not associated with anti-HCV status; however, history of antischistosomal injection therapy (reported by 19% of anti-HCV positives) was a risk for anti-HCV (age-adjusted risk ratio ‫؍‬ 1.3; 95% CI: 1.2, 1.5). This study, the largest community-based survey to date, supports earlier reports of high levels of anti-HCV among adults in rural areas of Egypt, although many of those who are seropositive will not have active liver disease. The large reservoir of HCV infection in the community provides an opportunity to investigate risk factors for transmission, the natural history of infection and effectiveness of preventive methodologies, and raises concern about the prospect of an increasing incidence of chronic liver disease in the coming decades. (HEPATOLOGY 2000;32:111-115.)In the United States and Europe, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been detected in 1% to 2% of the general population and fewer than 1% of volunteer blood donors. [1][2][3]

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Hepatitis C antibody prevalence in blood donors in different governorates in Egypt

Cited by 110 publications

References 15 publications

Hepatitis c and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: a community-based study.

Hepatitis c and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: a community-based study.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptians with and without a history of hepatitis B virus infection: association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but not with (HCV) RNA level.

Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in a community in the nile delta: Population description and HCV prevalence

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