title: Hepatitis C virus seroconversion rate in a hyperendemic area of HCV in Japan: a prospective study.
abstract: We have studied the prevalence, seroconversion rate of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the transmission of HCV in a cohort of individuals living in a hyperendemic area of HCV in Japan. We investigated 509 subjects, of which 375 could be studied again after 5 years. A remarkable high prevalence of anti-HCV (23.4-24.0%) was observed. Of 287 subjects negative at the first examination in 1990, 4 became positive until the second in 1995 (seroconversion rate: 0.28% per year). Furthermore, we investigated the route of transmission in HCV seroconverted subjects through a detailed interview. All of the HCV seroconverted subjects had past histories of medical treatment. Seroconversion rates of HCV in a hyperendemic area of HCV, were extremely high. Medical treatment was considered to be a causative route of HCV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuizumi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies