PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN SAUDI BLOOD-DONORS

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was retro spectively determined using a second generation enzyme immunoassay in 3868 blood donors from the southern part of Saudi Arabia in an area wi th high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Of 3354 Saudi s, 48 (1.43%) were seropositive for anti-HCV. A high prevalence (43 of 204, 21.08%) of anti-HCV was observed among Egyptian donors compared with Saudis (1.43%) and other nationalities (eight of 310, 2.58%). Fur thermore, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was observed to increa se with age, peaking in the 25 to 34 year age group. From this and oth er studies conducted in different regions of Saudi Arabia, the prevale nce of anti-HCV among Egyptian donors appears to range from 19.2 to 24 .5%, and among Saudi donors appears to range from 1.00 to 1.7%, a rate similar to that reported from western countries; this latter rate doe s not seem to be influenced by the high prevalence of HBV infection in this region.