Examination of hepatitis c virus antibody seropositive blood donors and their relatives
Osztrogonácz, H.; Stotz, G.; Horváth, G.áb.; Tolvaj, G.; Dávid, K.ár.
Orvosi Hetilap 145(22): 1171-1175
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 15279404 Document Number: 583847
239 anti-HCV seropositive blood donors (132 male, 107 female, age: 19-61, mean: 40.59 y.) and 174 family members of them (74 male, 100 female, age: 4-65, mean: 23.67 y.) were studied for chronic hepatitis C virus infection and chronic liver disease. Detailed virus serology, ultrasonography, and 6 months follow-up and--in patients with HCV RNA--liver biopsy were made. HCV RNA was determined in 165 patients. 70% of them were HCV RNA positive. The ALT level was normal in 95 cases (57%), and lower, than twice of the normal was in 34 cases (20%) among them. Liver biopsy was made in 79 patients; chronic C hepatitis was proven in 75 cases (steatosis in 3 cases, alcoholic liver disease in 1 case was observed). Inflammatory activity was minimal (HAI < 3) in 17, mild (HAI: 3-6) in 41, moderate (HAI: 7-9) in 7, and severe (HAI > 9) in 10 cases. There was no correlation between the serum ALT levels and the severity of the histological activity of chronic C hepatitis. Authors stress the importance of the fact, that 2 patients had normal ALT and 5 patients ALT levels were lower, than the twice of the normal of the 17 patients with significant inflammatory activity (HAI < 6). Chronic C hepatitis need for antiviral therapy was occurred in 45% of patients who known themselves previously healthy. The necessity of the systematic examination of anti-HCV seropositive patients and of the importance of the liver biopsy in patients with HCV RNA positivity is stressed. 3 anti-HCV seropositive cases of 174 family members of the blood donors were observed, but none of them was HCV RNA positive. It seems to be, family members of the HCV infected patients have no increased risk for HCV infection.