Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among patients with liver disease in the Republic of Yemen

We investigated 143 patients with various classes of liver disease and 120 healthy subjects for serological markers of hepatitis C and B viruses. We found a prevalence rate of 37.1% of anti-HCV markers in patients with liver disease [cases], and 4.2% and in the control group. HBsAg was detected in 33.6% of cases and 13.3% of the controls. Anti-HCV and HBsAg were detected in 7.7% of cases but were not detected in the controls. Anti-HCV, HBsAg, anti-HBe and anti-HDV were detected in three patients. Serum protein electrophoresis results showed elevated gammaglobulin and low albumin in patients positive for anti-HCV who had liver disease