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[Hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-HCV and non-A, non-B hepatitis]
1Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis. The anti-HCV antibody indicates past or present infection but not immunity, with prevalence varying across risk groups.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Hepatology
Context:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) identified as the primary cause of bloodborne non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- HCV is a single-stranded, encapsulated RNA virus.
- Anti-HCV antibody, directed against a nonstructural viral component, is the current detectable marker.
Purpose:
- To discuss the significance of anti-HCV antibody detection in serum samples.
- To analyze the prevalence of anti-HCV in various risk populations and geographical locations.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of anti-HCV for determining infection status and infectivity.
Summary:
- The anti-HCV antibody appears weeks to months post-infection. It persists for years in chronic cases but may disappear in resolving infections.
- Prevalence rates of anti-HCV vary significantly: 0.34% in Swiss blood donors, 1.3% in Southern Italy, and higher in specific risk groups like i.v. drug users (45-92%) and hemophiliacs (59-97%).
- Our data indicate 45% anti-HCV positivity in i.v. drug users, 7% in homosexuals, 13% in hemodialysis/transplant patients, and 60% in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis patients.
Impact:
- Highlights the diagnostic limitations of anti-HCV, as it does not differentiate between active, past, or resolved infections.
- Provides crucial epidemiological data on HCV prevalence in diverse populations, informing public health strategies.
- Underscores the need for further research into HCV infectivity and immunity markers.
Abstract:
Our data on 559 serum samples are discussed in the light of the present knowledge on hepatitis C virus (HCV). This newly discovered virus is thought to be the main cause of the bloodborne non-A, non-B hepatitis. HCV is a single-stranded, encapsulated RNS virus. Presently one antibody, anti-HCV, is detectable, which is directed against a nonstructural viral component. This antibody appears only weeks to months after infection or onset of the disease. Within 6-9 months 60-80% of the patients with resolving non-A, non-B hepatitis become positive, with the anti-HCV usually disappearing after 1-5 years. Patients with chronic infections are positive in 70-90% of cases, with the antibody usually persisting over decades. The presence of anti-HCV offers no clue as to whether there is an ongoing or past infection and does not serve to judge infectivity or immunity. 0.34% of the blood donors in Switzerland are anti-HCV positive, with 1.3% in Southern Italy and 0.6-0.8% in Northern Italy, Great Britain, France and Germany. Anti-HCV prevalence is high in hemophiliacs (59-97%), i.v. drug users (48-92%) hemodialysis patients and polytransfused individuals (3-23%), homosexuals and promiscuous heterosexuals (1-40%) as well as in patients with non-B hepatoma (62-80%) or with alcoholic cirrhosis (27-52%). Our own data show anti-HCV in 45% of i.v. drug users, 7% of homosexuals, 13% of patients under hemodialysis or with renal transplants, and in 60% of patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.