Prevalence and significance of anti-HCV antibodies.
The actual ELISA test for anti-HCV defects an antibody to a non-structural part of the virus. It is present in 0.3 to 1.5% of the blood donors and in about 60% of patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. Seroconversion occurs 4 to 6 months after the beginning of the disease. The risk of a sporadic transmission is very low but unknown. An ALT elevation occurred only in 7% of the sexual partners of positive chronic liver patients but nobody seroconverted. Vertical, mother to infant, transmission is rare. In all risk groups for HCV infection such as drug abuse, multiple transfusion, haemodialysis, the presence of the antibody is increased between 15 to 80%. There is also evidence that HCV may be an oncogenic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. It is present in 30 to 60% of the cases.
De Groote
J
J
Department of Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
D001782:Blood Donors; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies