Familial clustering of hepatitis C virus infection and chronic liver disease.
The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) and of chronic liver disease in relatives of anti-HCV positive subjects suffering from chronic active liver disease. We studied 122 subjects from 24 families. Each family had at least one positive anti-HCV component with histologically proven chronic liver disease. Anti-HCV was found in 32% of subjects; 82% of these were suffering from chronic liver disease diagnosed on the basis of physical examination and biochemical parameters. Prevalence of anti-HCV was higher in spouses, parents, and siblings of the index case as compared to the offspring. In conclusion, the transmission of HCV infection and of HCV-related chronic liver disease is contributed to by factors associated with the familial environment.
Caporaso
N
N
Istituto di Medicina Generale e Metodologia Clinica, I Facoltà di Medicina, Università di Napoli, Italy.
Morisco
F
F
Romano
M
M
Zembrino
A
A
Coltorti
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D000637:Transaminases