Risk factors and complications of hepatitis "C" in Peshawar. [A hospital based study]

ABSTRACT

To determine the risk factors and complications of hepatitis C in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Prospective observational study. Medicine department, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. From April 2004 to June 2005. A total of 252 HCV positive patients were selected, 165 were males and 87 were females. Relevant information was obtained from the patients with the help of a predesignd questionnaire prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study. The age range of patients was from 11 years to 84 years with mean age of47.5 years. Out of total sampling 137[54.36%] patients had positive family history of hepatitis C virus [HCV]. Risk factors distribution was intravenous drug users 73, HCV positive sexual partners 58 [23.01%], blood or blood product transfusion 34[13.49%] and occupational acquired HCV 18[7.14%]. Unknown source of HCV transmission was recorded in 69[27.38%]. Clinical presentation of HCV positive patient was Chronic persistent hepatitis 87[34.52%], liver cirrhosis 41[16.26%], hepatocellular carcinoma 2[0.79%] and fulminant hepatitis 2[0.79%]. One hundred and twenty patients [47.61%] were asymptomatic or subclinical symptomatic. Intravenous drug abuse and HCV positive sexual partners [wife or husband] were found as major risk factors of HCV transmission and chronic persistent hepatitis and liver cirrhosis were recorded as major clinical presentations of HCV in our patients