Prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with bleeding oesophageal varices: clinical significance and impact on the outcome of sclerotherapy

ABSTRACT

The aim of the work was to find out the prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with bleeding varices and its clinical significance. 200 patients with bleeding esophageal varices were included. Viral markers for hepatitis B and for hepatitis C were done by ELISA and confirmed by RIBA test for all patients with Anti-HCV positive ELISA. Endoscopic sclerotherapy is done for all patients every week until complete eradication then every 3 months for one year. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 55% and HBsAg 8%, both viruses 5.5%. There was a significant number of patients positive to hepatitis markers categorized under child B and C than in patients negative to hepatitis markers. Moreover, most patients positive to both markers were child B and C mainly. Re-bleeding from esophageal varices was more in patients positive to viral markers when compared to negative patients. Patients with both viruses had the highest rate of re-bleeding