title: Infection by hepatitis C virus through contaminated intravenous immune globulin: results of a prospective national inquiry in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A recent hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak has been suspected of being caused by an infusion of intravenous immune globulin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three laboratories were mandated by the French regulatory agency to prospectively screen on a national scale those persons having received suspected batches: 233 exposed patients were recalled and tested for HCV antibody and for HCV RNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients (8.1%) were found positive for HCV RNA; 7 of these 19 were positive for the HCV antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The link between HCV infection and intravenous immune globulin was reinforced by the overrepresentation of the 2b genotype (58%), which contrasts with the low prevalence of this genotype in France (1%).
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lefrère
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loiseau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinot-Peignoux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ravera
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thauvin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D012367:RNA, Viral