Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis B and C virus infections in a needle-sharing population in Northern China.
BACKGROUND
The epidemiologies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in specific populations in certain areas of China are poorly understood. A pilot survey of HCV/HBV infections was carried out in villages in Kuancheng County, Heben Province, where injection of sodium benzoate or amphetamines using shared needles has been a common practice. The aims of this study were to analyze the endemicity and characterize HCV/HBV infections in this population.


METHODS
Data on demographic characteristics and drug abuse were collected from individuals who signed informed consent forms. Serum HCV antibody (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) were measured in all participants. HCV RNA was measured in samples positive for anti-HCV using real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Among 852 participants from 11 villages, 49.9% had used sodium benzoate or amphetamine at least once, by intravenous injection. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV, HCV RNA, anti-HBc, HBsAg, and HCV/HBV co-infection was 37.1%, 26.6%, 67.7%, 10.7%, and 30.0%, respectively. Two-hundred-twenty-three of 227 (98.2%) participants positive for HCV RNA were aged >40 years. Co-infection was related to sex, age, number of injections, and time from first injection. The rate of spontaneous HCV RNA clearance was 28.2% (89/316), and was related to the number of injections, time from first injection, and HBsAg positivity. However, HBsAg was related to the anti-HBc signal/cut-off ratio rather than to the above parameters. Trend tests demonstrated that the prevalence of anti-HCV, HCV RNA, and anti-HBc was related to the number of injections (P < 0.001), while HBsAg prevalence was not (P = 0.347).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HCV and HBV infection is likely to be high among individuals older than 40 years in areas of needle sharing, and one-time screening for HCV infection should be offered to these populations.
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. xcj123321@163.com.
Cheng-Jun
CJ
Xu
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. zhcp.1979@163.com.
Cui-Ping
CP
Zhang
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. luobifen@qq.com.
Bi-Fen
BF
Luo
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. 986224066@qq.com.
Li-Jun
LJ
Liu
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. wyz18831419811@163.com.
Yun-Zhong
YZ
Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. 1214738844@qq.com.
Xiao-Hong
XH
Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. heqiujie666@163.com.
Qiu-Jie
QJ
He
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. 639818719@qq.com.
Shan-Shan
SS
Zhou
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. xyy6632526@163.com.
Wei-Shan
WS
Guo
Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Kuancheng Manchu Nationality Autonomous County, Hebei, 067600, China. 281630718@qq.com.
Jiu-Heng
JH
Wang
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. yangruifeng103@live.cn.
Rui-Feng
RF
Yang
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. zhanghaiying_zhy@163.com.
Hai-Ying
HY
Zhang
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. rao.huiying@163.com.
Hui-Ying
HY
Rao
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. xyfyfb_1@sina.com.
Bo
B
Feng
Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China. weilai@pkuph.edu.cn.
Lai
L
Wei
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D055815:Young Adult