Background:
@EN Hepatitis C Virus(HCV) infection is known as one of the most important causes of liver diseases such as post-transfusion hepatitis, sporadic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The prevalence of antibody to Hepatitis to
Hepatitis C Virus(anti-HCV) among blood donors was about 0.3-1.5% by first generation enzyme immunoassay(EIA). Second generation anti-HCV EIA was known as superior to first generation anti-HCV EIA in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. To
estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV among Korean adults and identify the route of HCV transmission, 5707 serum samples were tested.
@ES Methods:
@EN Serum samples from 5707 adults who visited Korea University Hospital Health Care Center for general check up were tested for second generation anti-HCV EIA, serum ALT(alanine aminotranferase), HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Questionnaires
including
presumptive risk factors of HCV were obtained form 36 anti-HCV positive cases, and those results were compared to the results from 105 anti-HCV negative cases.
@ES Results:
EN 1) The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.8%(101/5707). 2) The prevalence of anti-HCV increased with aging significantly(P<0.01). There was little difference in the prevalence anti-HCV between male and female(1.8% vs 1.7%). 3) The prevalence
of
anti-HCV in elevated(ALT>401/L) serum ALT cases was significantly higher than in normal(ALT≤401IU/L) cases(3.7% Vs 1.5%, P<0.01). 4) The prevalence of anti-HCV in Hasbro negative cases was higher than HBsAg positive cases(1.8% vs 0.9%), but it
was
not
statistically significant. 5) The prevalence of anti-HCV was 4.4% in cases with anti-HBc and elevated serum ALT(ALT>401/L), and it was significantly higher than the prevalence of anti-HCV in cases of anti-HBc negative and/or normal serum
ALT(P<0.01). 6)
Anti-HCV statuswas associated with history of transfusion significantly(P<0.05), but the following factors such as operation history, family history of liver diseases, history of sexually transmitted disease, alcohol intake and history of
acupuncture or
tatooing not associated with status of anti-HCV.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Prevalence of anti-HCV among Korean adult was 1.8%. Age matched prevalence of anti-HCV in Korean adults-was higher than the other countries in North Europe or North America, but similar to that of Spain or Japan. Prevalence of anti-HCV was
increased
with aging. To elucidate the meaning of anti-HCV positivity in these groups, further studies using direct virus detection method or recombinant immunoblot assay are needed.
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