HCV INFECTION IN DELHI, INDIA

The present study, a preliminary report on hepatitis C virus (HCV) inf ection in Delhi, describes the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in di fferent populations in northern India. Using a third-generation ELISA kit, anti-HCV was tested in normal healthy persons, both those without any risk as well as those at risk of HCV infection, and in patient po pulations with severe liver and renal disease. Antibodies to HCV were recorded in 3/384 (0.78%) voluntary blood donors and 1/75 (1.33%) preg nant women, both belonging to normal healthy populations. The persons at risk included in this study were 40 technicians, 40 commercial sex workers and 100 professional blood donors. The presence of anti-HCV in these groups was noted in 22.5%, 0% and 2%, respectively. Anti-HCV wa s also investigated in patient populations and detected in 20/50 (40%) patients with acute liver failure, 11/52 (21.15%) with chronic liver failure, 8/194 (4.12%) with end-stage renal disease, 28/83 (33.7%) pat ients on regular dialysis and 23/49 (46.9%) patients having undergone renal transplant. The pattern of anti-HCV in these populations present ed an important picture of HCV infection around Delhi city in India. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.