PRESENCE OF ANTI-HEPATITIS-C VIRUS SERUM MARKERS IN A DENTAL SCHOOL PATIENT POPULATION

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has joined the list of infectious liver diseas es of which the practicing dentist must be aware. This recently descri bed RNA virus causes between 20% to 40% of reported cases of viral hep atitis in the United States. Patients with HCV show symptoms only one quarter of the time, but chronicity is maintained longer than with the other liver infections. The major mode of transmission is percutaneou s, so dentists are potentially at risk to contract the virus. To asses s the presence of exposure to HCV, a total of 500 dental school patien ts were screened for serum antibody to this virus (second-generation a nti-HCV). in addition, participants were required to fill out a specia l screening questionnaire designed to indicate high-risk groups. Their serum was also analyzed for serum chemistries known to be associated with acute and chronic liver disease. Analysis of the 15 response ques tionnaires revealed statistical significance relating to questions inq uiring about previous exposure to blood (transfusions, surgical proced ures, etc) but little significance relating to lifestyle. In either ca se responses were not of practical predictive value. More than 5% of o ur sample patients were found to be positive reactors to anti-HCV, ind icating previous HCV exposure. A significant number of those positive for anti-HCV also showed elevation of serum chemistries associated wit h hepatitis.