title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in haemophiliacs in Jamaica.
abstract: Haemophilic patients (n = 90) and household contacts (n = 40) were tested for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and elevated serum aminotransferases using commercially prepared reagents. Of the haemophiliacs 41% (37/90) tested positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV); 36% (32/90) antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc); 54% (49/90) antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and 2% (2/90) hepatitis B surface antigen. On the other hand, 29% (26/90) of the patients and 90% (36/40) of the household contacts tested negative for all of the viral markers. Anti-HCV positivity in the haemophilic patients correlated positively with anti-HBc (p < 0.025). Increasing age (odds ratio 2.09; p < 0.01), severity of disease (odds ratio 6.2; p < 0.05) and the requirement for transfusion (odds ratio 3.2; p < 0.05) were risk factors for anti-HCV positivity. The presence of anti-HBc (odds ratio 3.8; p < 0.01) and coinfection with HCV and HBV also correlated positively with age (odds ratio 2.5; p < 0.01). The provision of anti-HCV screened donor blood and virally inactivated blood products for treatment of all haemophilic patients are goals that must be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies.
authors.forename: Gilian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wharfe
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smikle
authors.forename: Gwendolyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dowe
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buchner
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choo-Kang
authors.forename: Sherome
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies