| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
BARZAGA Nina G University of the Philippines Manila, College of Public Health, Assistant Profes, 公衆衛生学部, 助教授
APICHARTPIYAKU C Chiang Mai Univ, Sch Med, Lecturer, 医学部, 講師
SOETJIPTO Airlangga Univ, Sch Med, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 助教授
KATAYAMA Yuko Kobe Univ, Sch Med, Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (10224461)
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| Research Abstract |
Sero- and molecular epidemiological analyzes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Surabaya, lndonesia, were performed. Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 2.3% in healthy blood donors. The prevalence was 5-times higher in those with liver dysfunction than in those without. HCV subtype 2a (HCV-2a) was most common (52%) among HCV isolates from blood donors. On the other hand, HCV-1a, -1b and -1d were associated with elevation of serum ALT levels in blood donors, suggesting a possibly more pathogenic feature of those subtypes than HCV-2a. These results would be beneficial to control posttransfusion hepatitis. In patients on maintenance hemodialysis, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 62.3%. HCV-1a and -1b (each 31%) were among the most common subtypes in this group. These results suggest an increased risk of HCV infection in hemodialysis, where preventive measures should be taken. In contrast to the case with blood donors, there was no significant difference in subtype prevalence between hemodialyzed patients with liver dysfunction and those without. Impaired immune responses of hemodialyzed patients might be responsible for the apparently decreased hepatocytic injury caused by HCV infection. In patients with HCC,the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 64.7%. HCV-1b (57%) was the most common subtype, followed by HCV-1d (19%) and -2a (5%). Subtype prevalence was not different between HCC patients with advanced liver cirrhosis and those without. A novel subtype (HCV-3g) was identified, although its prevalence was rather low.
Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was also studied. The prevalence of HGV RNA was 32%, 25%, 10% and 1% in intravenous drug users, hemodialyzed patients, chronic liver disease patients and blood donors, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in individuals with HCV infection (24%) than in those without (5%).
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