High prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with thalassemia and patients with liver diseases in Myanmar (Burma).
We conducted Myanmar-Japan cooperation studies on hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus markers in patients with thalassemias and those with liver diseases. Among the 102 patients with liver diseases, 92% had a history of hepatitis B virus infection (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen positive), 35% were hepatitis B surface antigen positive, 39% were positive for anti-HCV. Among 28 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 46% had hepatitis B surface antigen, 21.4% had antibody to hepatitis C virus, and 7% were positive for both hepatitis B surface antigen and anti hepatitis C virus. The history of HCV infection among blood recipients at the Haematology Department of the Yangon General Hospital and at the Yangon Children's Hospital was found to be 55.5% and 46.7%, respectively, which is comparable to the history of hepatitis B infection (66.7% and 46.7%, respectively). This preliminary survey also encountered 2 cases positive for anti-HCV among 34 voluntary blood donors. This survey is the first one to report that hepatitis C is at the epidemic stage in Myanmar. As there is no effective treatment for hepatitis C in this country, a screening program for blood used in transfusion should be started immediately.
Department of Pathology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
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Okada
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Taketa
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Ishikawa
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Koji
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Mra
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Myint
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar; D015995:Prevalence; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000821:virology*