SEROPREVALENCE OF HCV, HAV, HBV, HDV, HCMV AND HIV IN HIGH-RISK GROUPS FRANKFURT AM, GERMANY

During the period from August 1991 to April 1993, serum samples origin ating from different risk groups were tested for antibodies against he patitis C virus (HCV), using a second-generation ELISA. The highest HC V seroprevalence levels were observed in haemophiliacs (87.0%) and int ravenous drug abusers (IVDA) (78.9%). The HCV-seropositivity rates of polytransfused and organ transplant recipients were nearly identical ( 18.4% vs. 16.8%). Significantly lower HCV-seroprevalence rates were de termined in chronic haemodialysis patients (8.1%) and homo/bisexuals ( 10.0%). The lowest HCV seroprevalence levels were found in the groups of female prostitutes (1.4%) and health care staff (0.8%). A strong co rrelation between HCV seropositivity and the presence of antibodies ag ainst HIV-1, HBc and HCMV was observed. There was also an association between HCV seropositivity and HAV. The seroprevalence of HDV and the proportion of HBsAg and HBeAg carriers was not significantly influence d by HCV serostatus. The incidence of HCV infection in renal transplan t recipients was 3.9%. In 10 (6.5%) patients, anti-HCV seroconversion was observed in the immediate post-transplantation period followed by a decrease of the index value and finally, disappearance of antibodies at the end of the study. Antibodies passively aquired through intrave nous immunoglobulin (MG) donation may account for overestimation of HC V seroprevalence in retrospective seroepidemiological surveys as estab lished by our findings.