PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRAL ANTIBODY IN TRANSFUSED AND NONTRANSFUSED EGYPTIAN CHILDREN

Hepatitis C (HCV) virus is recognized as the major cause of what was p reviously referred to as parenterally acquired (blood-mediated) non-A, non-B hepatitis. A study involving 252 transfused and nontransfused E gyptian children was conducted from November 1990 through February 199 1 to determine the prevalence of HCV and the role of blood and blood a nd blood product transfusions in the spread of the virus. Serum specim ens were assayed by a second generation enzyme immunoassay and were co nsidered reactive only after supplemental testing using the second gen eration recombinant immunoblot assay. Prevalence among 84 young study subjects with hematologic disorders was 55% (46 of 84), while no HCV a ntibodies were detected among the two nonhematologic pediatric populat ions studied: 84 hospital admissions and 84 acutely ill but otherwise healthy outpatients (seeking treatment for symptoms associated with a new condition less than three weeks old in the absence of any chronic health problem). Ninety-two percent (77 of 84) of the-hematology-relat ed cases had medical histories of multiple transfusions. Positive anti body responses (46) were significantly associated with increased durat ion of illness (P < 0.001) and the volume and number of transfusions ( P < 0.01) when compared with negative ones (38). However, prior hospit alization and/or surgery were not related to HCV antibody status. The high prevalence of HCV antibody among multiply transfused infants and children suggests that blood and blood product supplies should be regu larly screened for HCV antibody.