[Anti-HCV in patients without risk factors for hepatitis C. Prospective study in 200 patients]

Using a second generation enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Hepatitis C virus (HCV), we investigated the frequency of antibodies anti-HCV and the Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) plasma levels of 200 patients without history of viral hepatitis, liver diseases, blood transfusions, intravenous drugs abuse, homosexuality, hemodialysis, infection by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), nor workers of health services. There plasma samples (1.5%), were positives for antibodies anti-HCV, all of these samples were confirmed by RIBA (Recombinant Immunoblot Assay). In these three patients, the ALT plasma level were more than two folds the normal upper limit, another six patients had high ALT levels but less than one fold the normal upper limit. None of the infected patients had any clues that suggested the possible way of infection in the clinic history. We concluded that the incidence of Hepatitis C in the studied patients is 1.5% and that the ALT levels could be used to identify Hepatitis C infection.