The Role of Blood Transfusion in HCV Infection: A Study Testing Ab: RNA & Genotype

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) recently was identified as a major cause of post transfusion hepatitis world wide. To evaluate the role of blood transfusion on the prevalence of HCV infection, by testing antibody and RNA as well as the genotypes of HCV .Also to detect if Blood transfusion acts as unconfounding risk factor for HCV infection. Sera from 3491 pregnant women were investigated for the presence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) by using third generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA-3) as screening test, followed by immunoblot assay (Lia Tek-III). In addition 94 sera of studied women were subjected to molecular analysis (at laboratories of Sorin BioMedica – Italy) for the detection of viral RNA and genotypes of HCV. Using RT-PCR & DNA Enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) method. Our study revealed, that seroprevalence rate of HCV specific Ab & RNA were significantly higher (16.32 %, 80% respectively) among women with a history of blood transfusion, compared to those (2.53%, 56.5%) with no such history P=0.0001, P=0.01. And there is a significant direct linear correlation between number of blood transfused and the seropositive rate of anti-HCV(r=0.7, p=0.046). Based on multivariate analysis, interestingly, this study confirmed that, blood transfusion significantly acting as unconfounding risk factor for acquiring HCV infection (Adjusted OR=1.938,95% C.I=1.646-2.28). And the risk of exposure is increases with increased number of blood transfused. Although, we found no significant association between, HCV genotypic distribution and history of blood transfusion. However, high proportion of women with a history of blood transfusion were harboring HCV genotype –4 or 1b, 50%,40%, resepctively. Our study shows, evidence that, blood transfusion acts as unconfounding risk factor for acquiring and in a mode of transmission of HCV infection. Therefore strict screening of blood donor for HCV-Abs and / or RNA is highly recommended.

Hepatitis C virus antibodies, RNA and genotype in patients with hepatdellular carcinoma

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] has been implicated as a pathogenetic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] in number of countries. The goal of this study is to determine whether exposure to HCV acts as a risk factor for the development of HCC in Iraq and to determine the predominant HCV genotype in Iraqi patients with HCC. A case-control study was conducted in which 65 patients with HCC were compared to 82 patients having other malignant diseases [control]. HCV antibodies [anti-HCV] were measured in both groups using subsequently third generation enzyme immunoassay [EIA-3] and immunoblot assay [Lia-Tek III] as screening and confirmation respectively. In addition 26 positive anti-HCV sera [taken from both groups] were subjected to molecular analysis using the most recently developed RT-PCR and DNA enzyme immunoassay [DEIA] method. Anti-HCV seropositivity rate was significantly higher, 17/65 [26.1%] in the HCC patients compared to 9/82 [10.9%] in the control groups. The presence of HCV-RNA was confirmed in 12 of the HCC and 2 of the control group with positive anti-HCV. Anti-HCV seropositivity was found to be a significant risk factor for the development of HCC [OR=2.37, 95% CI=1.1-7]. There was no significant association between HCC and HCV genotype. There were 7 HCC patients who had HCV-1b as a single or mixed pattern of infection. One HCC serum with positive HCV-RNA could not be typed. The remaining sera were infected by genotype 1a or 4. There was a significantly higher rate of anti-HCV seropositivity in HCC patients, and HCV infection was found to be a significant risk factor of HCC. In addition, HCC patients harbored HCV-1b at a higher rate than the control group

Lack of mother-to-newborn transmission of hepatitis C virus in Iraqi women: a prospective study with hepatitis C virus RNA testing

The risk of mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus varies according to the population studied and the testing used. Patients and In this study, the polymerase chain reaction was employed for the first time in Iraqi research in a prospective study to assess the risk of vertical transmission in an unselected population of Iraqi pregnant women. Hepatitis C antibodies [Abs] were sought with third generation enzyme immunoassay [EIA-3] in 3491 pregnant women. A positive reaction was then confirmed by a third generation immunoblot assay [LiaTek-111]. Positive confirmation occurred in 112 serum samples. The study followed 26 babies of 25 anti-HCV positive mothers at the first month of life. Eight of these babies were followed for 6 months postnatally. All of the neonates were positive for HCV antibodies [EIA-3 and Lia Tek-111] during the first month of life. None were positive at 6 months. Hepatitis C virus RNA was consistently negative in 22 sera [14 infants at 1 month and 8 repeated at 6 months] regardless of the hepatitis C virus polymerase chain reaction status of their mothers, of whom 9 were positive for hepatitis C RNA. The study showed no evidence of vertical transmission of HCV from pregnant Iraqi women to their offspring