BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be a major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) and is thought to be an important causative agent of serious liver disease. Recently the role of HCV in the development of various liver disease is suggested. METHODS: Sera from 222 patients with various liver diseases had been kept frozen at -20 degrees C until the test. Anti-HCV was detected using the ABBOTT HCV EIA Test System (ABBOTT Co., America) following the manufacturer's instructions. The assay uses a recombinant HCV antigen (C 100-3) synthesized in yeast. RESULTS: HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were detected in 35 (31.5%) of 111 HBsAg-negative patients. The prevalence rate of anti-HCV was 61.9% (13 out of 21 patients) in chronic hepatitis, 29.1% (14 out of 48) in liver cirrhosis, 26.3% (5 out of 19) in hepatocellular carcinoma and 13% (3 out of 23) in acute hepatitis was far less (3 out of 111 patients, 2. 7%) than that of HBsAg-negative patients (p < 0.01). In this group, anti-HCV was detected in 2 (5.1%) out of 39 liver cirrhosis, 1 (1.9%) out of 52 chronic hepatitis, among them 47 were biopsy-proven chronic active hepatitis, and none of 20 hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, in Korea, 1) coinfection of HCV and HBV is infrequent, 2) HCV might be an important cause of HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis, 3) HCV is seemed to be a less likely important factor associated with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in HBsAg-negative patients, but further prospective study with a large population is necessary.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be a major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) and is thought to be an important causative agent of serious liver disease. Recently the role of HCV in the development of various liver disease is suggested. METHODS: Sera from 222 patients with various liver diseases had been kept frozen at -20 degrees C until the test. Anti-HCV was detected using the ABBOTT HCV EIA Test System (ABBOTT Co., America) following the manufacturer's instructions. The assay uses a recombinant HCV antigen (C 100-3) synthesized in yeast. RESULTS:HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were detected in 35 (31.5%) of 111 HBsAg-negative patients. The prevalence rate of anti-HCV was 61.9% (13 out of 21 patients) in chronic hepatitis, 29.1% (14 out of 48) in liver cirrhosis, 26.3% (5 out of 19) in hepatocellular carcinoma and 13% (3 out of 23) in acute hepatitis was far less (3 out of 111 patients, 2. 7%) than that of HBsAg-negative patients (p < 0.01). In this group, anti-HCV was detected in 2 (5.1%) out of 39 liver cirrhosis, 1 (1.9%) out of 52 chronic hepatitis, among them 47 were biopsy-proven chronic active hepatitis, and none of 20 hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, in Korea, 1) coinfection of HCV and HBV is infrequent, 2) HCV might be an important cause of HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis, 3) HCV is seemed to be a less likely important factor associated with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in HBsAg-negative patients, but further prospective study with a large population is necessary.
Authors: M Roggendorf; F Deinhardt; R Rasshofer; J Eberle; U Hopf; B Möller; R Zachoval; G Pape; W Schramm; F Rommel Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-08-05 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: J Bruix; J M Barrera; X Calvet; G Ercilla; J Costa; J M Sanchez-Tapias; M Ventura; M Vall; M Bruguera; C Bru Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-10-28 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: M Colombo; G Kuo; Q L Choo; M F Donato; E Del Ninno; M A Tommasini; N Dioguardi; M Houghton Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-10-28 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: G Kuo; Q L Choo; H J Alter; G L Gitnick; A G Redeker; R H Purcell; T Miyamura; J L Dienstag; M J Alter; C E Stevens Journal: Science Date: 1989-04-21 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: E Tabor; R J Gerety; J A Drucker; L B Seeff; J H Hoofnagle; D R Jackson; M April; L F Barker; G Pineda-Tamondong Journal: Lancet Date: 1978-03-04 Impact factor: 79.321