Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in a cohort of hemophilia patients

Blood. 1990 Jul 1;76(1):254-6.

Abstract

One hundred thirty-one patients followed at the New England Hemophilia Center (Worcester, MA) were tested for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV). All but two had used factor concentrate that had not undergone viral inactivation; two patients had used only cryoprecipitate. The overall prevalence of HCV antibody positivity was 76.3%. There was no significant difference in age or the amount of non-heat-treated factor concentrate used between the group that was HCV antibody positive and negative. There was also no significant difference between aminotransferase levels in the two groups. There was a positive association between HCV antibody and the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and antibody to human immunodeficiency virus. A group of 31 patients were tested twice for HCV antibody at intervals of 35 to 71 months. In this subset, 25 were repeatedly seropositive, 4 were repeatedly seronegative, and 2 went from seropositive to seronegative. These data confirm the previous impression that non-A, non-B hepatitis is a major sequela to the use of pooled coagulation factor concentrates. HCV infection may account for most of the chronic liver disease observed in this population. Anti-HCV testing of plasma donors and improved methods of viral inactivation should prevent new cases from developing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • Hemophilia A / complications
  • Hemophilia A / epidemiology
  • Hemophilia A / immunology*
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / analysis*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Transfusion Reaction

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies