Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C and its risk factors in Khuzestan Province, South-West of Iran： A case-control study

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 12; no. 30; pp. 4884 - 4887
• Main Authors: Hajiani, Eskandar, Hashemi, Jalal, Masjedizadeh, Rahim, Shayesteh, Ali Akbar, Idani, Esmail, Rajabi, Tahereh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran%Department of Internal Medicine, Ahwaz Jundishapur, University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran%Department of Pathology, Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran 14.08.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Child; Female; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - metabolism; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; 丙型病毒肝炎; 血清流行病学; Iran; Hepatitis C virus; South-West of Iran; Risk factors; Epidemiological patterns
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.12.4884

AIM：To evaluate possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis C infection and to analyze the characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical patterns among the patients with hepatitis C infection. METHODS： During a five-year period a cross-sectional study was conducted among HCV positive individuals referred to the Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals （AJSUH） and Hepatitis Clinic from 1 Sept 1999 to 1 Sept 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion organization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay anti-hepatitis C virus （HCV） tests were performed for two groups. Positive serum specimens were retested using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） for HCV RNA. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. Reported risk factors among infected subjects （＂HCV-positive＂） were compared to those of subjects never exposed （＂HCV-negative＂） to HCV. RESULTS： A total of 514 subjects were studied for HCV, of which 254 were HCV-positive and 260 HCV- negative donors comprised the control group. Mean age of the patients was 28.4 （Std 15.22） years. HCV-positive subjects were more likely to be of male gender （63% versus 37%）. Transfusion 132 （52%）, non-intravenous （n-iv） drug abuse and iv drug abuse 37 （14.5%）, haemodialysis 25 （10%）, receiving wounds at war and extramarital sexual activities （2.4%）, tattooing （3.6%） were found to be independent risk factors of being HCV-positive. No apparent risk factors could be demonstrated in 29 （11.2%） of the positive cases. CONCLUSION： Our data indicate that a history of transfusion and iv drug abuse and haemodialysis are important risk factors for HCV infection in our area and that more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti- HCV must be introduced in our blood banks. Improvements in certain lifestyle patterns, and customs in this area may be essential to prevent transmission of the infection.