title: Grading and staging chronic hepatitis C and its relation to genotypes and epidemiological factors in Brazilian blood donors.
abstract: Progression of chronic hepatitis C is known to be associated with some factors, but influence of HCV genotypes is still controversial. Association between HCV genotypes and other risk factors was examined to determine which factors are associated with progression of infection. One hundred consecutive anti-HCV positive volunteer blood donors were evaluated for several risk factors, examined for HCV genotypes, and submitted to hepatic biopsy and biochemical exams.HCV genotyping were carried out in 89 patients and hepatic biopsy in 78. Transmission routes were found to be illicit intravenous drug use (26%), Gluconergan use in a non-safe manner (48%) and blood transfusion (15%). HCV genotype was 1 in 45%, 3 in 40%, and it was not associated with the stage of fibrosis or with inflammatory activity. There was no significant association of factors related to infection, chronic alcohol use, or duration of illness, with progression of the lesion. There was a significant association of aminotransferase levels and the fibrosis stage. Univariate analysis showed that the age at contamination, patient's age, GT-gamma, and aminotransferase levels over three times the upper normal limits, were associated with fibrosis stages 2 to 4. Multivariate analysis detected age (odds ratio=1.19), and GT-gamma (odds ratio=2.02) as independent factors.
authors.affiliation: Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP, Botucatu, SP. giovanni@fmb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Giovanni Faria
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Kunie Iabuki Rabello
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Elza Cotrim
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase