Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Among Healthy Blood Donors and Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis Patients in Thailand

Abstract

SUMMARY:With the antigen expressed in yeast from a cDNA clone encoding a non-structural region of newly discovered hepatitic C virus (HCV) genome, the prevalence of HCV antibody in people in Thailand was investigated. Antibody was detected in 2.6% of healthy blood donors and in 2.8% of healthy pregnant women. These prevalence rates were higher than those reported previously from Japan, USA and European countries. Among community-acquired, sporadic cases of acute and chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, however, only 5.7% and 15.4% were shown to possess the antibody, respectively. Among hepatocellular carcinoma patients who were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen in the sera, 11.1% had antibody to HCV. These seroepidemiological data suggest that HCV plays an important role as an etiological agent in Thailand; however, other agents must also be involved in etiologic agents of viral hepatitis and chronic liver disease.

Chronic liver disease in Peru: Role of viral hepatitis

“…However, among patients with chronic liver disease but without chronic hepatitis B, HCV infection has been found to be much more prevalent than in the current study [Chen et al, 1990;Kiyosawa et al, 19901. Also, although the numbers were small, none of the seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in our study had anti-HCV, which contrasts with 11-70% of patients in other countries [Boonmar et al, 1990;Coursaget et al, 1990;Chang et al, 1992;Farinati et al, 1992;Ramesh et al, 1992;Simonetti et al, 19921. There are several potential explanations for the low level of HCV infection in patients with chronic liver disease in this Peruvian population. First, there may be other factors responsible for the development of chronic liver disease in this population that are independent of HCV or HBV infection.…”

“…Patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma have been noted in various studies to have a n increased prevalence of anti-HCV. The frequency of HCV infection in these conditions has varied from population to population and has been higher in patients without chronic hepatitis B [Boonmar et al, 1990;Bruix et al, 1989;Bisceglie et al, 1991;Chang et al, 1992;Chia et al, 1991;Chuang et al, 1992;Colombo et al, 1991;Kew et al, 1990;Lai et al, 1992;Levrero et al, 1991;Poynard et al, 1991;Shimizu et al, 1992;Simonetti et al,…”

MOLECULAR CLONING OF cDNA OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) GENOME FROM A HEALTHY CARRIER IN AN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY IN TAIWAN WITH HIGH PREVALENCE OF HCV INFECTION

“…The prevalence of past infection with HCV is 0 18 to 2.6% of healthy blood donors in the different countries (5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Furthermore, several reports have shown that HCV infection might be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis and Hepatitis C: The Relationship Serodiagnostic Pitfalls and the Challenge of Treatment

“…At the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, the incidence is 40% [17] and in this edition of the Annals, Fakunle [18] reports 53.7%. Among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the incidence varies between 11% and 60.8% [10,19] but in Japan, is up to 94.4% [20]extremely high compared to the 34.5% prevalence of hepatitis B positivity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Of some surprise is that HCV has been found in association in 11% to 29% of patients with chronic hepatitis B, a higher figure occurs with DNA activity [21].…”

“…Seroprevalence studies using the first generation ELISA test have been conducted on healthy people and patients with variety of chronic liver disease and other problems. Thus, in healthy blood donors, the prevalence of positive hepatitis C (HCV) antibodies generally varies from 0.42% in Germany [8] to 1.4% in New York [9] but 2.6 in Thailand [10] and up to 4.6% in China [11]. In patients with post-transfusion associated'chronic NANB, the incidence is between 60% and 84% [12] and in patients with non-transfusion associated chronic NANB, the incidence is between 58% to 92% [12,13].…”