Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Saudi and expatriate women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Six of 511 (1.17%) parturient Saudi females were positive for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), while one of 171 (0.58%) expatriate female nurses tested positive for the antibody. The prevalence of 1.17% in Saudis compares with 1.2% among pregnant women in Spain, while none of the 40 pregnant women screened in England tested positive for anti-HCV. Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen in the same sample from Saudi women were positive in 24.6%. Judging by the low prevalence of its antibody, HCV is not as highly endemic as hepatitis B virus (HBV) in this population.
Fakunle
Y M
YM
Departments of Medicine, and Central Laboratory and Maternity and Children Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Mofarreh
M
M
Al-Ghreimil
M S
MS
Idrees
Y B
YB
El-Drees
A Z
AZ
Al-Karamany
W
W
Ezzat
H O
HO