Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies in patients with liver disease

108 liver diseased patients, either admitted as indoor patients, or attending the hospital as outdoor patients were included in the present study. Four hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, namely; Federal Government Services Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Capital Hospital and Rawalpindi General Hospital were selected for this study. The selection of cases was based on the relevant case history, which was recorded in each case on a proforma. The patients were selected for the serological studies of HCV antibodies based on the recorded information and clinical diagnosis of the attending physician. In addition, one hundred apparently healthy individuals, showing no liver ailment, were also tested for anti-HCV antibody as a control population. Among the liver dysfunction patients, 32 [29.63%] were found positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Of these positive patients, four had received blood transfusion and seven gave a positive history of surgery. Out of the surgical interventions, five had had cataract surgery and two had received dental treatment. No known source of infection could be attributed to the remaining positive patients. Among the control population, 4% were positive for HCV antibodies. The possible source of infection among the controls could be recorded only in two cases. One had received blood transfusion and the other had undergone surgery without transfusion. The source of infection in the remaining control positive cases could not be attributed to any cause

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBS Ag] in patients with liver disease

One hundred and eight liver dysfunction patients, either admitted as indoor patients or attending the hospital as outdoor patients were included in the present study, to investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]. Among the studied patients 22.22% were found positive for HBsAg. Of these positive patients, five had received blood transfusion and six gave a positive history of surgery. One hundred control population was also tested for HBsAg. Out of this, 5% were found positive for HBsAg; most of them were hospital employees. Of the 24 patients found positive for HBsAg, 44% could be attributed to known sources of transmission. The remaining HBsAg positive patients, most of them males, the infection of HBV could not be attributed to any of the conventionally reported sources, who belonged to very low income group. This fact brings to mind the possibility of infection through the percutaneous route. Further studies are necessary to investigate the role of this route in the causation of HBV infection in Pakistan