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Hepatitis C virus infection in chronic liver disease in Bombay
D N Amarapurkar1, A Kumar, S S Parikh
1Department of Gastroenterology, B Y L Nair Charitable Hospital, Bombay.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody prevalence was studied in 126 chronic liver disease patients in Bombay. The study found HCV present in 16.6% of patients, with higher rates in cryptogenic liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic liver disease is a significant health concern.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.
- Understanding HCV prevalence in specific populations is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antibody to Hepatitis C Virus (anti-HCV) among patients with chronic liver disease in Bombay.
- To investigate the association of anti-HCV with other liver disease etiologies, including Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and alcohol consumption.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 126 patients with chronic liver disease (cirrhosis, cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic active hepatitis) were tested.
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibody.
- HBsAg-positive samples were further tested for anti-delta antibody and IgM anti-HBc.
Main Results:
- Overall, 21 out of 126 patients (16.6%) tested positive for anti-HCV antibody.
- The prevalence of anti-HCV was 13.7% in HBsAg-positive patients, 14.7% in alcoholic liver disease patients, and 20.5% in cryptogenic liver disease patients.
- A history of blood transfusion was reported by 38% of anti-HCV positive patients.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis C virus infection is a notable factor in chronic liver disease patients in Bombay, with an estimated prevalence of 15-20%.
- The study highlights the importance of considering HCV in the etiological diagnosis of chronic liver disease, particularly in cryptogenic cases.
- Blood transfusion appears to be a significant risk factor for HCV acquisition in this population.
Abstract:
To find out the prevalence of antibody of hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in patients with chronic liver disease in Bombay, sera from 126 patients (93 men, 33 women; aged 9-70 years, mean 39.7) with chronic liver disease (cirrhosis 103, cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma 3, chronic active hepatitis 20) were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody. HBsAg positive sera were tested for anti-delta antibody and IgM anti-HBc. All the tests were carried out by ELISA. Of 126 patients, 51 (40.5%) were HBsAg positive, 49 (38.8%) alcoholic and 21 (16.6%) anti-HCV positive. The prevalence of anti-HCV in HBsAg positive, alcoholic and cryptogenic (HBV negative and no alcohol) liver disease patients was 13.7%, 14.7% and 20.5% respectively. Of 21 anti-HCV antibody positive patients, 8 (38%) had received blood transfusions previously. HCV is present in 15-20% of patients with chronic liver disease in Bombay.