Hepatitis C virus antibody, viral RNA and genotypes in leprous patients in Japan.
METHODS
Markers of hepatitis C virus infection were tested for in 229 patients with leprosy (male 154, female 75) in Japan.


RESULTS
Antibody to hepatitis C virus by a second-generation enzyme immunoassay was detected in 68 patients (30%), and RNA of hepatitis C virus in 41 (18%), in prevalence rates much higher (p < 0.001) than those in matched controls (11/923 or 1.2% and 9/923 or 1.0%, respectively). Hepatitis C virus genotypes were II/1b in 37 (90%), III/2a in three (7%) and IV/2b in one (2%), in which II/1b was more frequently (p < 0.003) represented than in hepatitis C virus carriers without leprosy in Japan (520/767 or 68%). The 41 patients with hepatitis C virus viremia had serum transaminase levels significantly higher than those in the other 188 patients without viremia (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that leprous patients confined in institutions are at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection, and that patients infected with hepatitis C virus should be monitored for liver function and placed on interferon therapy whenever required.
Egawa
K
K
National Suruga Leprosarium, Shizuoka-Ken, Japan.
Yukawa
T
T
Arakawa
S
S
Tanaka
T
T
Tsuda
F
F
Okamoto
H
H
Miyakawa
Y
Y
Mayumi
M
M
D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007918:Leprosy / Q000821:virology*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000637:Transaminases