Hepatitis C as a cause of chronic liver disease in northern Pakistan.
The antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) were tested in 45 histologically confirmed cases of chronic liver disease. Twelve cases had chronic hepatitis, 24 cirrhosis and 9 hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-HCV was detected in 6 patients. Two (16.67%) were suffering from chronic hepatitis, 3 (12.5%) had cirrhosis and one (11.11%) hepatocellular carcinoma. None of the anti-HCV positive cases had past history of blood transfusion. The patients of chronic liver disease in this study had a much higher prevalence of HBV infection which indicates that in northern Pakistan hepatitis C virus infection is not a common cause of chronic liver disease whereas HBV infection plays an aetiological role in a much larger number of these cases.
Malik
I A
IA
Pathology Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Ahmad
N
N
Luqman
M
M
Legters
L J
LJ
Khalil-Ullah
Zaheeruddin
Ahmed
A
A
Bukhtiari
N
N
Nabi
S
S
Mubarik
A
A
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010154:Pakistan
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies