BACKGROUND/AIMS: Between 1964 and 1987 several epidemic outbreaks of hepatitis C virus infection linked to plasma donation occurred at plasmapheresis centres in Austria. Data collected by a Foundation to help the victims enabled us to study the natural history of chronic hepatitis C in this cohort. METHODS: Medical records and charts of donors accepted by the Foundation were analyzed. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-five subjects (439 males; mean age at infection: 22 years) were included. Mean follow-up was 31 years. Thirty-four percent of plasma donors had advanced liver disease; alcohol abuse and diabetes were related to progression. Twenty-one patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma; 36 underwent liver transplantation. Six donors cleared the virus spontaneously. Forty died, with death directly related to liver disease in 25 donors. Overall and transplant-free 35-year cumulative survival rates were 84% and 74%, respectively. Three hundred and nineteen patients received and 291 completed antiviral treatment. All 56 who achieved a sustained virologic response are alive and well; 14 non-responders died and nine underwent liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-one years after virus infection, advanced liver disease has developed in a third of patients, with an overall mortality of 7%. These data underline the progressive nature of chronic hepatitis C infection and the need to identify and treat infected subjects.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Between 1964 and 1987 several epidemic outbreaks of hepatitis C virus infection linked to plasma donation occurred at plasmapheresis centres in Austria. Data collected by a Foundation to help the victims enabled us to study the natural history of chronic hepatitis C in this cohort. METHODS: Medical records and charts of donors accepted by the Foundation were analyzed. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-five subjects (439 males; mean age at infection: 22 years) were included. Mean follow-up was 31 years. Thirty-four percent of plasma donors had advanced liver disease; alcohol abuse and diabetes were related to progression. Twenty-one patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma; 36 underwent liver transplantation. Six donors cleared the virus spontaneously. Forty died, with death directly related to liver disease in 25 donors. Overall and transplant-free 35-year cumulative survival rates were 84% and 74%, respectively. Three hundred and nineteen patients received and 291 completed antiviral treatment. All 56 who achieved a sustained virologic response are alive and well; 14 non-responders died and nine underwent liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-one years after virus infection, advanced liver disease has developed in a third of patients, with an overall mortality of 7%. These data underline the progressive nature of chronic hepatitis C infection and the need to identify and treat infected subjects.
Authors: Tiago Pereira Guedes; Mónica Garrido; Ricardo Kuttner Magalhães; Teresa Moreira; Marta Rocha; Luís Maia; José Manuel Ferreira; Sara Morais; Isabel Pedroto Journal: GE Port J Gastroenterol Date: 2020-09-29
Authors: Yasmine S El Abd; Ashraf A Tabll; Noha G Bader El Din; Alaa El-Dien S Hosny; Rehab I Moustafa; Reem El-Shenawy; Khaled Atef; Mostafa K El-Awady Journal: Virol J Date: 2011-08-05 Impact factor: 4.099
Authors: Mark Hull; Stephen Shafran; Alex Wong; Alice Tseng; Pierre Giguère; Lisa Barrett; Shariq Haider; Brian Conway; Marina Klein; Curtis Cooper Journal: Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol Date: 2016-07-04 Impact factor: 2.471
Authors: Mostafa K El-Awady; Ashraf A Tabll; Yasmine S El-Abd; Hassan Yousif; Mohsen Hegab; Mohamed Reda; Reem El Shenawy; Rehab I Moustafa; Nabila Degheidy; Noha G Bader El Din Journal: Virol J Date: 2009-05-27 Impact factor: 4.099