title: Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C in patients with liver disease.
abstract: We studied the seroprevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with liver disease using the Abbott HCV EIA. Twenty-four patients with acute sporadic nonA nonB hepatitis, 19 patients with chronic hepatitis, 28 patients with cirrhosis and 47 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were assayed. The seroprevalence was 8.3% (2/24) in acute hepatitis; 10.5% (2/19) in chronic hepatitis; 3.6% (1/28) in cirrhosis and 14.9% (7/47) in hepatocellular carcinoma. The seroprevalence rates were lower in all categories of liver disease compared to figures reported in developed countries. Possible reasons included a delayed or missed seroconversion in the acute hepatitis group. Other etiologies like hepatitis B and alcohol may play a more important role in chronic liver disease. On the other hand, the seroprevalence locally may actually be low. Sporadic, non-blood transfusion appears to be a common method of acquiring the infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Toa Payoh Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fock
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Oon
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies