[Anti-hepatitis C viral antibodies in different pathological entities in Chile]

In order to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C viral antibodies in Chile, we determined antibody titers in preserved serum from 91 subjects using an ELISA method. The number and percentage of patients with positive titers was as follows: hemophiliacs without evidence of liver disease 88% (n = 25); prostitutes 0% (n = 25); sporadic non A non B hepatitis 0% (n = 12); chronic non alcoholic hepatitis with negative anti-HbsAg and anti HBc 63% (n = 10); hepatomas with negative titers as indicated for the previous group 30% (n = 10); post transfusion non A non B hepatitis 66% (n = 3). These results suggest that transfusion of blood products may be the main etiologic factor for Hepatitis C in our population.