scholarly journals Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Transmission Obscure in Nigerian Patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olive Obienu ◽  
Sylvester Nwokediuko ◽  
Abraham Malu ◽  
Olufunmilayo A. Lesi

Aim. To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV and risk factors associated with HCV infection in Nigerians.Materials and Method. Patients attending a general outpatient clinic were administered a structured questionnaire on the risk factors for HCV infection. They were also tested for anti-HCV using a third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Result. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 4.7%. Among the risk factors evaluated, none was found to be significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity.Conclusion. The risk factors associated with HCV infection in Nigerian patients are obscure. This warrants further studies on the epidemiology of this important cause of liver disease.

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110472
Author(s):  
Hope King ◽  
J. E. Soh ◽  
William W. Thompson ◽  
Jessica Rogers Brown ◽  
Karina Rapposelli ◽  
...  

Objective Approximately 2.4 million people in the United States are living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The objective of our study was to describe demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, liver disease–related risk factors, and modifiable health behaviors associated with self-reported testing for HCV infection among adults. Methods Using data on adult respondents aged ≥18 from the 2013-2017 National Health Interview Survey, we summarized descriptive data on sociodemographic characteristics and liver disease–related risk factors and stratified data by educational attainment. We used weighted logistic regression to examine predictors of HCV testing. Results During the study period, 11.7% (95% CI, 11.5%-12.0%) of adults reported ever being tested for HCV infection. Testing was higher in 2017 than in 2013 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.18-1.36). Adults with ≥some college were significantly more likely to report being tested (aOR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.52-1.69) than adults with ≤high school education. Among adults with ≤high school education (but not adults with ≥some college), those who did not have health insurance were less likely than those with private health insurance (aOR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.89) to get tested, and non–US-born adults were less likely than US-born adults to get tested (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68-0.87). Conclusions Rates of self-reported HCV testing increased from 2013 to 2017, but testing rates remained low. Demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and liver disease–related risk factors may affect HCV testing rates among adults. HCV testing must increase to achieve hepatitis C elimination targets.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-156
Author(s):  
Maryann C. Ezeilo ◽  
Godwill A. Engwa ◽  
Romanus I. Iroha ◽  
Damian N. Odimegwu

Background:The lack of a vaccine for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) places children at a high risk of contracting the infection. It becomes necessary to accurately diagnose this infection for proper treatment as well as identifying potential risk factors for effective management.Aim:This study was conceived to assess the test performance of the commonly used Immunochromatographic test (ICT) strip and identify the associated clinical manifestations and risk factors of HCV in children in Enugu Metropolis.Method:A cross-sectional study involving randomly selected 270 children below six years of age was conducted in Enugu Nigeria. The subjects were screened for anti-HCV by ICT and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and the demographic, signs and symptoms and risk factors were collected.Results:A total of 50 out of 270 children were positive for anti-HCV with a seropositivity of 18.5%. ICT strip had a very low sensitivity of 38.00% with an accuracy of 88.52% in detecting anti-HCV. The presence of dark urine was associated (p= 0.01) with HCV infection.Conclusion:A seroprevalence of 18.5% of Anti-HCV was found in children below six years old in Enugu metropolis and the performance of ICT in diagnosing HCV infection was poor compared to ELISA.


2004 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 303-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingridt Hildegard Vogler ◽  
Anna Nishiya ◽  
Helena Kaminami Morimoto ◽  
Edna Maria Vissoci Reiche ◽  
André Luiz Bortoliero ◽  
...  

Serological, epidemiological and molecular aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were evaluated in 183 subjects from Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, and adjacent areas. Serum samples which tested anti-HCV positive by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) obtained from eight patients with chronic hepatitis C, 48 blood donors, and 127 patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were submitted to another enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). About 78.7% of samples were also reactive by ELISA, with the greater proportion (70.8%) of discordant results verified among blood donors. A similar finding was observed for HCV-RNA detection by PCR, with 111/165 (67.3%) positive samples, with higher rates among HIV-positive subjects and patients with chronic hepatitis than among blood donors. Sixty-one PCR-positive samples were submitted to HCV genotyping, with 77.1, 21.3 and 1.6% of the samples identified as types 1, 3 and 2, respectively. Finally, analysis of some risk factors associated with HCV infection showed that intravenous drug use was the most common risk factor among HIV/HCV co-infected patients, while blood transfusion was the most important risk factor in the group without HIV infection. The present study contributed to the knowledge regarding risk factors associated with HCV infection and the distribution of HCV genotypes in the population evaluated.


Author(s):  
Manal Khudder Abdul Razak

Objective: Patients who frequently receive blood have high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection and potential risk factors among multiply transfused patients.Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in the hemophilia unit in Medical City in Baghdad, between June 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017. After taking consents and approval of ethical comity, the medical records of 1158 patients with hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease (vWD), thrombasthenia, Factors VII, X, and XIII deficiencies, and hypofibrinogenemia were analyzed for the presence of HCV antibody using (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Cases of hemophilia were classified into mild, moderate, and severe.Results: The prevalence of HCV infection was 13.2%. Of total, 595 (51.4%) patients had hemophilia A and 99 (16.6%) were anti-HCV positive, while 225 (19.4%) had hemophilia B and 28 (12.4%) were antibody positive compared to 9 (7%) in vWD. Of those with hemophilia A, 515 (86.6%) had severe hemophilia, and 32 (32.32%) cases had acquired HCV infection after 1996 (after introduction of HCV screening in blood banks in Iraq). There was a statistically significant association with treatment by Factor VIII only.Conclusion: The prevalence of HCV in patients with inherited bleeding disorder is 13.2%. In this study, it was found that multitransfusion is the only predictor for HCV infection in this group of patients. 


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cássio Vieira de OLIVEIRA ◽  
Walnei Fernandes BARBOSA ◽  
Liciana Vaz de Arruda SILVEIRA ◽  
Juliana MENEZES ◽  
Flávia Souza MACHADO ◽  
...  

Background There are limited studies on the prevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Objective Identify the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in university employees of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods Digital serological tests for anti-HCV have been performed in 3153 volunteers. For the application of digital testing was necessary to withdraw a drop of blood through a needlestick. The positive cases were performed for genotyping and RNA. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used, with P-value <0.05 indicating statistical significance. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were also used. Results Prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.7%. The risk factors associated with HCV infection were: age >40 years, blood transfusion, injectable drugs, inhalable drugs (InDU), injectable Gluconergam®, glass syringes, tattoos, hemodialysis and sexual promiscuity. Age (P=0.01, OR 5.6, CI 1.4 to 22.8), InDU (P<0.0001, OR=96.8, CI 24.1 to 388.2), Gluconergam® (P=0.0009, OR=44.4, CI 4.7 to 412.7) and hemodialysis (P=0.0004, OR=90.1, CI 7.5 – 407.1) were independent predictors. Spatial analysis of the prevalence with socioeconomic indices, Gross Domestic Product and Human Development Index by the geoprocessing technique showed no positive correlation. Conclusions The prevalence of HCV infection was 0.7%. The independent risk factors for HCV infection were age, InDU, Gluconergan® and hemodialysis. There was no spatial correlation of HCV prevalence with local economic factors.


Author(s):  
Manal Khudder Abdul Razak

Objective: Patients who frequently receive blood have high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection and potential risk factors among multiply transfused patients.Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in the hemophilia unit in Medical City in Baghdad, between June 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017. After taking consents and approval of ethical comity, the medical records of 1158 patients with hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease (vWD), thrombasthenia, Factors VII, X, and XIII deficiencies, and hypofibrinogenemia were analyzed for the presence of HCV antibody using (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Cases of hemophilia were classified into mild, moderate, and severe.Results: The prevalence of HCV infection was 13.2%. Of total, 595 (51.4%) patients had hemophilia A and 99 (16.6%) were anti-HCV positive, while 225 (19.4%) had hemophilia B and 28 (12.4%) were antibody positive compared to 9 (7%) in vWD. Of those with hemophilia A, 515 (86.6%) had severe hemophilia, and 32 (32.32%) cases had acquired HCV infection after 1996 (after introduction of HCV screening in blood banks in Iraq). There was a statistically significant association with treatment by Factor VIII only.Conclusion: The prevalence of HCV in patients with inherited bleeding disorder is 13.2%. In this study, it was found that multitransfusion is the only predictor for HCV infection in this group of patients. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Farshadpour ◽  
Reza Taherkhani ◽  
Farkhondeh Bakhtiari

Objective. Knowledge regarding the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women can give clue to health care providers regarding the appropriate management of HCV infection. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence, genotypic pattern, and risk factors of HCV infection among pregnant women in the northern shores of the Persian Gulf, south of Iran. Methods. From January 2018 to June 2019, serum samples were obtained from 1425 pregnant women, ages ranging from 14 to 46 years ( 28.1 ± 5.99 ). Serum samples were tested for detection of anti-HCV antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (HCV Ab ELISA kit, Dia.Pro, Milan, Italy). Following the extraction of nucleic acid, the molecular evaluation of HCV infection was performed by seminested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR), targeting the 5 ′ untranslated region (5 ′ UTR) and core of HCV genome and sequencing. Results. Of the 1425 pregnant women, 19 women (1.33%, 95% CI: 0.85%–2.07%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. The majority of HCV-seropositive women were in the third trimester of pregnancy, educated, and had a history of blood transfusion, abortion, surgery, or dentistry. Moreover, Arab and Fars pregnant women and those aged >39 years had the highest rate of HCV seroprevalence. Nevertheless, none of these variables were significantly associated with HCV seropositivity. In contrast, HCV seropositivity was associated with place of residency, so that residents of Khormuj city had significantly higher HCV seroprevalence compared to the residents of other cities (OR: 7.05; 95% CI: 1.75–28.39; P = 0.006 ). According to the molecular evaluation, 9 of the 19 HCV-seropositive pregnant women (47.37%) had HCV viremia with genotype 3a. Conclusion. This study reports the HCV prevalence of 1.33% for anti-HCV antibodies and 0.63% for HCV RNA among pregnant women in the south of Iran. Considering the asymptomatic nature of chronic HCV infection and the fact that vertical transmission is possible in women with detectable viremia, therefore, screening of women before pregnancy is recommended to reduce the risk of HCV infection and its complications during pregnancy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Gheorghe ◽  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Speranţa Iacob ◽  
Roxana Şirli ◽  
Anca Trifan ◽  
...  

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a common condition with endemic prevalence in some areas of the world. In Romania, the mean prevalence is about 3%. New treatments became available on the market in recent years and new drugs are in the pipeline. A re-evaluation of HCV therapy was considered mandatory. The Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology undertook this task for the practitioners of this country.Methodology: A group of recognized experts was created who screened the available literature and the major available guidelines. A list of items requiring attention has been created. These items were discussed and rated. Decisions were taken by consensus.Recommendations: We present here the first of the two parts of our Society’s recommendations for chronic HCV infection treatment. An agreement was reached regarding the diagnostic tools, the assessment of severity and the up-dated therapy schedules.Conclusions: This Position Paper represents a guide for the assessment and the therapy of HCV infection. The recommendations are in concordance with other guidelines but are applied to the real-life conditions in this country.Abbreviations: DAAs: Direct-acting antivirals; DDIs: Drug-drug interactions; ESLD: End-stage liver disease; ESRD: End-stage renal disease; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; EASL: European Association for the Study of the Liver; EMA: European Medicines Agency; FDA: US Food and Drug Administration; FDC: Fixed-dose combination; GT: Genotype; GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; LT: Liver transplantation; LLD: Lower limit of detection; MELD score: Mayo-Clinic End-Stage Liver Disease score; ANMDM: National Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices; PPIs: Proton pump inhibitors; PWID: People who inject drugs; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; RDT: Rapid diagnostic test; RAS: Resistance-associated substitution; SRGH: Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; SAE: serious adverse events; SPC: Summary of Product Characteristics; SVR: Sustained virologic response.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Gheorghe ◽  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Speranța Iacob ◽  
Roxana Șirli ◽  
Anca Trifan ◽  
...  

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common condition with endemic prevalence in some areas of the world. In Romania, the mean prevalence is about 3%. New treatments have become available on the market in recent years and new drugs are in the pipeline. A re-evaluation of HCV therapy was considered mandatory. The Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology undertook this task for the practitioners of this country.Methodology: A group of recognized experts was created who screened the available literature and the major available guidelines. A list of items requiring attention was created and these were discussed and rated. Decisions were taken by consensus.Recommendations: We present here the second part of the Society’s recommendations for chronic HCV infection treatment. An agreement between experts was reached regarding the therapy of the special categories of patients infected with HCV, complications and monitoring of the therapy, follow-up of the patients who reached sustained virologic response and re-treatment of the patients with therapy failure.Conclusions: This Position Paper represents a guide for the assessment and the therapy of HCV infection. The recommendations are in concordance with other guidelines but are applied to real-life conditions in Romania. Abbreviations: CKD: Chronic kidney disease; DAAs: Direct-acting antivirals; DDIs: Drug-drug interactions; ESDL: End-stage liver disease; FCH: Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis; GT: Genotype; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; LT: Liver transplantation; MELD score: Mayo-Clinic End-Stage Liver Disease score; PDC: Premature discontinuation; PWID: Persons who inject drugs; RASs: Resistance associated substitutions; RBV: Ribavirin; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; SAE: Serious adverse events; SRGH: Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; SVR: Sustained virologic response.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document