title: Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in chronic liver disease in northwest China.
abstract: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in northwest China, 179 chronic liver disease patients in this area were examined for antibody to hepatitis C virus core protein (anti-HCVcore). This antibody was found in only 5 (14 percent) of 37 chronic non-A, non-B liver disease patients, in 11 (16%) of 67 asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers, and in 20 (27%) of 75 chronic hepatitis B patients. High titers of anti-HCVcore (cut off index > 2) were observed in 3 (60%), 5 (45%), and 9 (45%) of the anti-HCVcore-positive cases of these groups, respectively. We further investigated the seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B virus in the 37 chronic non-A, non-B liver disease patients. All 5 anti-HCVcore-positive cases were positive for a hepatitis B virus marker, with only 44% (14/32) of the anti-HCVcore-negative patients (P < 0.05). Based on these findings, it is concluded that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in chronic non-A, non-B liver disease is unexpectedly low in northwest China and that hepatitis B and C viruses seem to have a similar mode of infection in that area.
authors.affiliation: First Teaching Hospital of Xi'an Medical University Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fusamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014758:Viral Core Proteins