title: Risk factor exposure among hepatitis C virus RNA positive Swedish blood donors--the role of parenteral and sexual transmission.
abstract: The potential modes of transmission for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were studied using a multivariate analysis of risk factor exposure among 51 2nd generation anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive and matched anti-HCV negative blood donors. The following variables were found to be independently associated with anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positivity: intravenous drug use (IVDU) (p < 0.001), blood transfusion (p < 0.01), tattoos (p < 0.001), previous hospitalization (p < 0.05), history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) (p < 0.001) and lack of travels outside of Europe (p < 0.05). Among the 23 HCV-RNA positive donors without a history of IVDU or blood transfusion, an increased frequency of hospitalization (p = 0.017) and history of STD (p = 0.023) were found. Five of 22 sexual partners of the 51 index blood donors were HCV-RNA positive and in one of these couples sexual transmission was suspected. Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive donors were more often seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies than were HCV-negative controls (p = 0.015). Sexual transmission of HCV may occur, but the possible role of HSV-2 requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, East Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shev
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermodsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Norkrans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral