Hepatitis C virus clearance is prominent in women in an endemic area

Background: The clinical and virological backgrounds of cases with previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV) an d HCV-RNA negative) in an HCV endemic area were examined to identify factor s related to the clearance of HCV. Methods: The study population comprised 3117 inhabitants, 1037 male and 208 0 female, from an HCV endemic area. Hepatitis C virus antibody was detected by a passive haemagglutination test. The HCV-RNA and the HCV genotype were detected by using the polymerase chain reaction method. The HCV serotype w as determined by enzyme immunoassay by using the peptides of the core regio n. Results: Twenty-two per cent of the inhabitants were positive for anti-HCV, with males and the elderly having a significantly higher antibody titre (P < 0.01) than youths and females. Hepatitis C virus-RNA was detected in 78% of the HCV antibody-positive cases. The rate of HCV-RNA positivity was sig nificantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.01). No relationship was found between HCV-RNA positivity and age. The HCV genotype 1b was the predo minant genotype among the HCV-RNA-positive cases. Mixed genotypes (1b + 2a) were observed in 12% of cases, primarily in elderly males and females. In cases with previous HCV infection, serotype 1 was the most common serotype, and there appeared to be no relationship between the distribution of HCV s erotypes and age and gender. There was a female predominance with regard to previous HCV infection, but not to being HCV carriers (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Gender, not HCV genotype, is the primary factor influencing HC V clearance. (C) 2000 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.