ABSTRACT
In Latin America few studies have explored frequency and risk factors predicting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donors. In this study we determined the prevalence of HCV infection in blood donors from West Mexico. Potential risk factors, clinical, histological and virologic characteristics presented in this group were also evaluated. METHODS: HCV antibodies were evaluated in 57108 blood donors with commercial second-generation enzyme immunoassays. Positive results were confirmed by a recombinant immunoblot assay. Repeatedly seropositive donors were further studied for risk factors, history for hepatitis, hepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT)), liver histology and hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) detection. RESULTS: A total of 499 blood donors were initially tested positive doubtful for antibodies to HCV Ab (0.8%). While there was no difference in HCV prevalence with respect to age or gender, the most frequent risk factors identified were transfusion (42%), household exposure (14.8%), multiple sex partner (6.8%) and intranasal cocaine use (2.3%). Also, we found that from a subgroup of donors tested for histological analysis, 19% presented abnormal ALT levels and 90% showed abnormal liver histology. No correlation was found between abnormal ALT levels and the presence of HCV-RNA in serum. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate a low prevalence (0.8%) of HCV infection among Western Mexican blood donors, which was comparable to those established for Western countries, but in contrast in our study the most frequent risk factor continues being transfusion followed by household exposure.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP), relative viscosity (eta) and overall outcome on the expression of albumin (ALB) mRNA in peripheral white blood cells (PWBC) of cirrhotic patients with superimposed alcoholic hepatitis (LC+AH). ALB messanger was detected in PWBC by RT-nPCR in control individuals (C), patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and LC+AH. A higher number of LC+AH patients were positive to ALB mRNA (67%), compared to C (30%) and LC (28%). COP was decreased in LC and LC+AH groups compared to C group. No statistically significant changes were detected in eta in the different populations studied. Most of the LC+AH patients positive to peripheral ALB expression (87%) had a fatal outcome, compared to survivors (25%). Such difference was not observed with the conventional liver function tests or Maddrey's discriminant function.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Evaluar la prevalancia de marcadores de infección por virus de hepatitis B y C en muestras de suero de médicos del Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente (HE-CMNO). Material y métodos: Se determinó el antígeno de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B (AgsVHB) y el anticuerpo contra el antígeno corre a través de inmunoanálisis de hepanostika. También se realizó la detección de anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis C (anti VHC) por la técnica de ELISA de segunda generación. Resultados: Se incluyeron 62 médicos que ejercían su profesión en servicios médicos o quirúrgicos, de los cuales 51 eran del sexo masculino (82 por ciento) y 11 del sexo femenino (18 por ciento). La edad promedio fue de 28 años (intervalo de 25 a 66), el tiempo de ejercicio en promedio fue de ocho años (intervalo 2 a 44 años). En cuatro médicos (6 por ciento) se encontraron marcadores serológicos con evidencia de infección por virus de hepatitis B (VHB), todos tuvieron anticuerpos anticore del VHB negativo (AccVHB), en un caso se encontró anti VHC positivo (2 por ciento). La prevalancia en médicos con antecedentes de exposición percutánea múltiple fue del 25 por ciento, en médicos de servicios quirúrgicos fue del 14 por ciento y en aquellos con más de 10 años de actividad profesional fue del 24 por ciento. Conclusiones: la prevalancia mayor de infección por virus de hepatitis se observó en aquellos médicos con más de 10 años de actividad clínica en servicio quirúrgico y en médicos con lesiones percutáneas múltiples
