General seroprevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections in population

ABSTRACT

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] and hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection by detection of anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen [HbsAg] in general population of Pakistan. Design: Observational. Place and Duration of Study Community clinic of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 1998 to June 2004. Materials and Sera of healthy adult individuals who presented for medical evaluation as a pre-employment criteria in the Gulf region were examined for presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV antibody. Alanine aminotransferase levels were also determined. A total of 47,538 individuals were examined. Out of these, 2528 [5.31%] were positive for anti-HCV and 1221 [2.56%] individuals had positive HBsAg. Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV both were found in 92 [0.19%] individuals. Mean age of subjects, positive for HCV antibody was 44 years and 40.5 years for HBV. Ninety-four% individuals were males and 6% were females. Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] was normal in 56% of subjects with positive HCV and 84% of individuals with HBV. This study which evaluated predominantly a healthy male population, showed a high seroprevalence of anti-HCV and average seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. A large majority of these patients was young and had normal ALT