title: Low prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in chronic liver disease in Finland.
abstract: High prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) have been found in the Middle- and Southern European countries in connection with chronic liver diseases. In a study of Finnish chronic liver disease patients no anti-HCV antibodies were found in 22 autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, in 5 chronic persistent hepatitis and in 38 alcoholic liver disease patients. 2/30 primary biliary cirrhosis patients were anti-HCV positive. As a comparison 3/9 patients with acute community acquired non-A non-B hepatitis and 28/48 i.v. drug addicts had anti-HCV antibodies. The results indicate that HCV infections in Finnish chronic hepatitis patients are rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pohjanpelto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tallgren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nuutinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuoristo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heinälä
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral