PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA BY RE-DNA 2ND-GENERATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL EIA TESTS

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the population of the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Design: Cross-se ctional survey for HCV antibodies, using the second-generation (EIA) a nd supplemental test (anti-HCV: c-100-3, c-33-c, c-22-3 of the structu ral and non-structural regions of the HCV genome). Setting: Dammam, th e capital city of the Saudi Eastern Province. Subjects: 8934 blood don ors, 957 pregnant women, 185 children, 238 patients on haemodialysis p rogrammes, 123 intravenous drug abusers, and 175 controls, making a to tal of 10 612 which included subjects of different nationalities (from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and the Indian subcontinent). Main outcome measures: The HCV status among the appare ntly healthy and non-healthy population of different nationalities and backgrounds, using the second-generation EIA and the supplemental ass ays. Results: The overall rate was 2.35%; for the blood donors, pregna nt women, children (< 2-15 years old), haemodialysis patients, intrave nous drug-addicts, and controls it was 1.65%, 1.35%, 1.08%, 30.25%, 6. 50% and 3.42% respectively, while the incidence among the blood donors according to their countries of origin were: 1.15%, 1.23%, 1.43%, 1.3 5% and 18.14% for the Saudi, Middle Eastern, South-East Asian, Indian and Egyptian subjects respectively. Conclusion: HCV seems to be circul ating in this area of the world, and positivity begins in the early ag e-group of 10-15 years. The incidence of HCV antibodies was very high among the patients on haemodialysis programmes and among Egyptians wor king in this area. This study could be of value to health policy strat egies and a base for further studies of this newly discovered virus.