Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus: a study of male blood donors in Saudi Arabia.
BACKGROUND
Few epidemiologic reports on the prevalence of hepatitis C in Saudi blood donors have been published.


METHODS
Men (of several nationalities) donating blood at the King Khalid National Guard Hospital (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) were randomly selected (n = 744) for this study examining the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the local donor population, the relationship of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) to the surrogate markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and the effect of the use of these markers on the discard rate.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anti-HCV in the group examined was 3.2 percent (24/744), with a significantly high prevalence of 24.5 percent (12/49) in donors who were Egyptian (p < 0.0001). Exclusion of this group would lower the prevalence to 1.7 percent (12/695). Anti-HCV prevalence peaked in the group aged 30 to 39, and a significant relationship was found between anti-HCV and ALT level > 65 U/L (p < 0.0001). There was no significant relationship between anti-HCV and anti-HBc (p = 0.66). The prevalence of anti-HCV in the Saudis studied was 1.7 percent (9/528). The prevalence of anti-HCV in non-Bedouin Saudis was significantly greater than that in Bedouin Saudis (7/165 [4.2%] vs. 2/363 [0.5%]; p < 0.01). The prevalence of anti-HBc was found to be 28.7 percent (214/744). The use of elevated ALT (> 90 U/L) and anti-HBc as surrogate markers would increase the current discard rate (8.3%) by 2.8 and 23.8 percent, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the practical difficulties of using anti-HBc as a surrogate marker for hepatitis C in areas endemic for hepatitis B virus.
Abdelaal
M
M
Pathology Department, King Khalid National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rowbottom
D
D
Zawawi
T
T
Scott
T
T
Gilpin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase