Hepatitis C virus infection in African patients with liver cirrhosis or primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
We have studied the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Rwandan patients with histologically proven liver cirrhosis (LC) or primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Anti-HCV antibodies were determined by using a second-generation test, with a line immunoassay for structural and non-structural antigens as confirmation. Seventy-nine patients with LC, 26 with HCC, and 54 voluntary blood donors as controls were evaluated. Anti-HCV antibodies were more prevalent in LC patients (48%) and in HCC patients (38%) than in the controls (17%; difference, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.03, respectively). Eighty-four per cent of LC patients and 54% of HCC patients were HBsAg-negative. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was significantly higher for LC and HCC patients who had been in contact with HBV but who had no persistent HBV infection (p < 0.05). We conclude that HCV infection is common in Rwanda and is linked to LC and HCC.
Academic Hospital, Free University of Brussels (V.U.B.), Belgium.
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T
Mets
J
J
Smitz
P
P
Ngendahayo
L
L
Sabbe
I
I
Bigilimana
B
B
Ngirabatware
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology