[Prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease in the region of Nice and evaluation of risk factors].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of viral hepatitis C markers and to determine independent risk factors in a population of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.


METHODS
We studied 117 consecutive out-patients (male/female, 53/64; mean age 41 +/- 16 yrs) with ulcerative colitis (43 patients) or Crohn's disease (74 patients). Anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies were tested with a third generation Elisa test. The following risk factors were tested for each patient: duration of inflammatory bowel disease, number of colonoscopies, history of surgical procedures, blood transfusions, intravenous drug abuse and immunosuppressive treatments.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus was 5.98% (7/117). The only risk factor independently associated with serological markers for hepatitis C virus was blood transfusion (odds ratio: 7.77; confidence interval: 95% (1.63-49.09); P=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection was high in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, mainly due to blood transfusions. Colonoscopies and surgical procedures were not found to be additional risk factors for infection with hepatitis C virus.
Longo
F
F
Fédération des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Hôpital de l'Archet II, CHU, Nice.
Hebuterne
X
X
Tran
A
A
Staccini
P
P
Hastier
P
P
Schneider
S
S
Benzaken
S
S
Tirtaine
C
C
Rampal
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies