Hepatitis C Virus Infection in an Area Hyperendemic for Hepatitis B and Chronic Liver Disease: The Taiwan Experience

Chen, Ding‐Shinn; Kuo, George; Sung, Juei‐Low; Lai, Ming‐Yang; Sheu, Jin‐Chuan; Chen, Pei‐Jer; Yang, Pei–Ming; Hsu, Hsu‐Mei; Chang, Mei–Hwei; Chen, Chien-Jen; Hahn, Liang-Cheng; Choo, Qui‐Lim; Wang, Teh‐Hong; Houghton, Michael

doi:10.1093/infdis/162.4.817

Cited by 301 publications

(178 citation statements)

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“…The highest prevalence has been reported in the Egypt where up to 14.5% [Darwish et al, 1996]. The HCV prevalence was 1% among voluntary blood donors in Taiwan [Chen et al, 1990b].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses infection among preschool children in Taiwan

Lin

Chen

et al. 2005

Journal of Medical Virology

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Taiwan was a hyperendemic area for hepatitis A and B viruses (HAV and HBV) infection before late 1980s. To study the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses (HCV and HEV) infection among preschool children in Taiwan, a community‐based survey was carried out in 54 kindergartens in 10 urban areas, 10 rural areas, and 2 aboriginal areas randomly selected through stratified sampling. Serum specimens of 2,538 preschool children were screened for the hepatitis A, C, and E antibodies by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay and for HBV markers by radioimmunoassay methods. The multivariate‐adjusted odd ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated through the multiple logistic regression analysis. Females had a statistically significantly higher HAV seroprevalence than males. The seroprevalence of HCV infection increased significantly with age. The larger the sibship size, the higher the seroprevalence of HBV infection. Aboriginal children had a significantly higher seroprevalence of HBV and HEV infection and lower seroprevalence of HCV infection than non‐aboriginal children. A significantly higher seroprevalence of HBV infection was found in rural children than urban children. There was no significant association between serostatus of HAV and HEV infection and between serostatus of HBV and HCV infection among preschool children in Taiwan. The poor environmental and hygienic conditions in the aboriginal areas might play a role in infection with HBV and HEV. J. Med. Virol. 78:18–23, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.

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“…The highest prevalence has been reported in the Egypt where up to 14.5% [Darwish et al, 1996]. The HCV prevalence was 1% among voluntary blood donors in Taiwan [Chen et al, 1990b].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses infection among preschool children in Taiwan

Lin

Chen

et al. 2005

Journal of Medical Virology

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“…11 An 80-85% decrease in HCC among Taiwanese adults up to 3-4 decades later is anticipated. 12 The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) is 2-4% among the general population of Taiwan, 13 while it ranges from 0.95 to 2.2% in Taiwanese blood donors. 13,14 The anti-HCV prevalence is approximately 60% in HBsAg-negative HCC patients.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…12 The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) is 2-4% among the general population of Taiwan, 13 while it ranges from 0.95 to 2.2% in Taiwanese blood donors. 13,14 The anti-HCV prevalence is approximately 60% in HBsAg-negative HCC patients. 13 Reportedly, of the HCC cases in Taiwan as a whole, about 70-80% is related to HBV infection and 10-30% is related to HCV infection.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Secular trends and geographic variations of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan

Yang

et al. 2006

Intl Journal of Cancer

122

126

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Etiological variations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exist across different geographic areas. To gain better control of HCC, we retrospectively studied the secular trends and geographic variations in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCCs in Taiwan. A total of 18,423 HCC cases enrolled in 8 medical centers from 1981 to 2001 were reviewed. Overall, 67% of male HCC in Taiwan was related to HBV infection whereas 55.2% of female HCC in Taiwan was related to HCV infection. The mean age of patients with HBV-related HCC was 53.2 6 13.6 years, while the mean age of patients with HCV-related HCC was 65.1 6 9.1 years (p < 0.001). The male/female ratio was 6.4 for HBV-related HCC, while it was 1.7 for the HCV-related HCC (p < 0.001). The percentage of HBV-related HCC progressively decreased from 81.5 to 66.2% in males, and from 66.7 to 41.4% in females over the study period. Our study demonstrates that the percentage of HBV-related HCC has progressively decreased over the last 20 years. The relative decrease in HBV-related HCC was not due to a decrease in HBV-related HCC death. Instead, it was caused by an increase in HCV-related HCC. Prevention of new HCV infection and the treatment of chronic hepatitis C should be the primary goals, which will result in better control of HCC in the future, even in an HBV-endemic area like Taiwan. ' 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; secular trend; geographic variation; Taiwan Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Since 1984, it has been the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan, 1 accounting for approximately 7,000 death annually. In addition, around 8,000 new HCC cases are diagnosed each year. 2 High-risk groups for HCC include patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), liver cirrhosis patients, and people with a family history of HCC. Chronic HBV and HCV infections are the 2 major etiologies of HCC in Taiwan. 3 About 15-20% of the general population in Taiwan are chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). 4 HBV carriers have a 20-to 98-fold increased risk of HCC, 5,6 especially among the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive group. 7 A recent prospective study has further confirmed that positivity for HBeAg is associated with an increased risk of HCC. 8 To combat HBV infection in Taiwan, a mass immunization program has been launched on July 1, 1984, aiming first at the prevention of perinatal mother-to-infant, chronic HBV infection. 9 This nationwide vaccination program has markedly decreased the HBV carrier rate 10 and childhood HBVrelated HCCs (B-HCCs). 11 An 80-85% decrease in HCC among Taiwanese adults up to 3-4 decades later is anticipated. 12 The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) is 2-4% among the general population of Taiwan, 13 while it ranges from 0.95 to 2.2% in Taiwanese blood donors. 13,14 The anti-HCV prevalen...

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“…65 We soon learned that HCV infection was also prevalent in Taiwan, and HCV was a common cause of CLD and HCC, second only to HBV. 66 Led by Dr. Pei-Jer Chen, we also cloned and sequenced the whole genome of HCV. 67 Based on these efforts, blood donors were screened with antibody to HCV in Taiwan beginning in 1992, and transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C has been effectively prevented thereafter.…”

Section: My Encounter With Hepatitis Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fighting against viral hepatitis: Lessons from Taiwan

Chen

2011

Hepatology

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Hepatitis C Virus Infection in an Area Hyperendemic for Hepatitis B and Chronic Liver Disease: The Taiwan Experience

Cited by 301 publications

References 3 publications

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses infection among preschool children in Taiwan

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses infection among preschool children in Taiwan

Secular trends and geographic variations of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan

Fighting against viral hepatitis: Lessons from Taiwan

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