OBJECTIVE: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) becomes chronic in 85% of the infected individuals. We studied risk factors that may predict clearance of HCV. METHODS: A case-control study compared the association between risk factors and viral clearance. Viral clearance was defined as presence of a positive HCV antibody test plus negative HCV test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-four cases and 214 controls with persistent viremia were identified in a database of patients evaluated at the Gastroenterology Clinic of the University of New Mexico. RESULTS: Of all 258 HCV-antibody-positive patients, 17% had a negative test by PCR. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that a history of parenteral exposure and a long time interval since the most recent exposure were both associated with an increased likelihood of persistent viremia, whereas subjects who had been monogamous for longer time periods were more likely to have cleared HCV from their serum. A low serum level of ferritin also conferred protection against persistent viremia. Case and control subjects did not differ with respect to their demographic characteristics, occurrence of comorbid disease, previous medical history, occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, blood group, and risky health or sexual practices. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that route of exposure and time when exposure occurred are important in the development of persistent HCV infection.
OBJECTIVE: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) becomes chronic in 85% of the infected individuals. We studied risk factors that may predict clearance of HCV. METHODS: A case-control study compared the association between risk factors and viral clearance. Viral clearance was defined as presence of a positive HCV antibody test plus negative HCV test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-four cases and 214 controls with persistent viremia were identified in a database of patients evaluated at the Gastroenterology Clinic of the University of New Mexico. RESULTS: Of all 258 HCV-antibody-positive patients, 17% had a negative test by PCR. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that a history of parenteral exposure and a long time interval since the most recent exposure were both associated with an increased likelihood of persistent viremia, whereas subjects who had been monogamous for longer time periods were more likely to have cleared HCV from their serum. A low serum level of ferritin also conferred protection against persistent viremia. Case and control subjects did not differ with respect to their demographic characteristics, occurrence of comorbid disease, previous medical history, occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, blood group, and risky health or sexual practices. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that route of exposure and time when exposure occurred are important in the development of persistent HCV infection.
Authors: Fernando H Wolff; Sandra C Fuchs; Nêmora N T Barcellos; Paulo Ricardo de Alencastro; Maria Letícia R Ikeda; Ajácio B M Brandão; Maicon Falavigna; Flávio D Fuchs Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Alice K Asher; Glenn-Milo Santos; Jennifer Evans; Emily K Dokubo; Tzong-Hae Lee; Jeffrey N Martin; Steven G Deeks; Leslie H Tobler; Michael Busch; Peter W Hunt; Kimberly Page Journal: AIDS Date: 2013-11-13 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Karen H Seal; Alex Monto; Lorna Dove; Hui Shen; Eric Vittinghoff; Daniel Tracy; Erica Miller; Eva Lau; Teresa L Wright Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2007-04-19 Impact factor: 3.199