[HCV infection and risk of transfusion in the area of Tivoli and its surroundings].
The positivity of the anti-HCV antibody has been studied by means of an immuno-enzymatic solid phase method, on 1.605 blood samples. They were drawn from 5 groups of people, during the period from February 1 to October 31, 1992: a) all blood donors who made the donation at the Transfusion Service of Tivoli Hospital during that period; b) all intravenous drug users who came to Tivoli Hospital for control; c) all patients in the Contagious Disease Section with suspected liver disease, always during the same period; d) all patients with suspected liver disease from other Sections of our Hospital; e) all out-patients who came to our Service during the same period to have their hepatitis markers studied. The highest prevalence of HCV Ab positivity was in the drug users, with a prevalence of 80.9%; far from this value, the next two groups were the patients from the Contagious Disease Section (positivity: 23.4%), and from the other hospital Sections (positivity: 20.1%). In the out-patient group only 9.7% were positive and among blood donors only 0.35%. In all 5 groups the HCV-positive subjects were in many cases positive for B hepatitis too; and very often they presented high levels of ALT. These results confirm that in some the percentage of positive-subjects for C hepatitis or for B & hepatitis; very high; therefore the authors underline the great importance to exclude all members of these groups from the donation of blood, its components, and organs too, even if the tests are negative.
Ciuffreda
M
M
Immunoematologia e Servizio Trasfusionale, Ospedale S. Giovanni Evangelista, Tivoli.
Terracina
G M
GM
Maisto
A
A
Rinaldi
M
M
Tarei
M
M
Visin
F
F
Zorini
C O
CO
D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies