Persistent infection of hepatitis C virus in the elderly: a clinical and quantitative pathological study of autopsy cases

Abstract

Anti-HCV-positive elderly autopsy patients include many asymptomatic cases. The two pathological parameters of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation can be used to divide the cases into five groups with each group being well correlated with clinical and virological features.

Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus Infectionin the Elderly

“…These observations are supported by Sawabe et al [8], who reported that among 37 elderly autopsy cases (mean age 76.5 years in males and 81.1 years in females) that were anti-HCV-positive, 21 were asymptomatic and 11 had no signs of inflammation or fibrosis on liver biopsy. All cases with inflammatory changes on liver biopsy were positive for serum HCV RNA.…”

Undiagnosed cirrhosis occurs frequently in the elderly and requires periodic follow ups and medical treatments

“…The degree of hepatitis was examined quantitatively using a previously explained method 12 because it was difficult to apply the Knodell scoring system in autopsy cases 13 . The “portal inflammation index” was defined as the number of portal lymphoid aggregates or follicles larger than 100 mm in diameter per cm 2 of the hepatic area.…”

Hepatitis C in the Elderly: Epidemiology, Natural History, and Treatment

“…Compared with controls; history of blood transfusions, surgery and use of non-disposable syringes was significantly more common among the patients who had positive HCV antibody (blood transfusion: p< 0.05, surgery: p< 0.01 and the use of non-disposable syringes, p<0.005) (5). A study from Japan revealed 8.8% and 13.1% of HCV antibody seropositivity in hospital and autopsy cases older than 60 years of age, respectively (6). …”