Chronic liver disease in Peru: role of viral hepatitis.
The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in 105 patients with biopsy-proven chronic liver disease and 128 comparison patients without any evidence of liver pathology living in Lima, Peru. Using a second-generation EIA screening and supplemental immunoblot assay, anti-HCV was detected in four of 13 patients with chronic hepatitis, in 11% of 85 patients with cirrhosis, and in none of seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Only two (1.6%) comparison patients without liver disease had anti-HCV. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 23% of patients with chronic hepatitis, 12% of patients with cirrhosis, and three of seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic viral hepatitis or alcohol abuse (reported by one-third of subjects) in 48% of chronic liver disease patients. These preliminary data suggest that among this South American population neither hepatitis B nor hepatitis C infection is the predominate cause of chronic liver disease and that other infectious or environmental factors may be important.
Barham
W B
WB
Infectious Diseases Division, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600.
Figueroa
R
R
Phillips
I A
IA
Hyams
K C
KC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens