Shobokshi Ossama A, Serebour Frank E, Al-Drees Abdullah Z, Mitwalli Ahmed H, Qahtani Ahmad, Skakni Leila I
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2003 Jul;24 Suppl 2:S81-6.
The aim of the study is to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors, children, pregnant women, hemodialysis patients and drug addicts in Saudi Arabia.
Using third generation enzyme immunoassay kits, we have screened Saudi cohorts of all ages and sexes, namely infants, pre-school, school children, young adults and adults (blood donors and antenatals) for antibodies to HCV. We have also reviewed HCV seroprevalence data among high risk groups from 1998 to 2002.
An overall 1.1% (6313 out of 557813) seroprevalence rate was determined among Saudi blood donors; 0.1% (5 out of 3854) in Saudi children; and 0.7% (22 out of 3127) among pregnant women. Hemodialysis patients remain at highest risk of infection at 55.7% whereas intravenous drug addicts have 14% exposure rate.
We conclude that the present public health schemes have been effective in reducing hepatitis C infection in the general community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but the infection among high risk groups remain a major problem that needs to be actively addressed.
本研究旨在确定沙特阿拉伯献血者、儿童、孕妇、血液透析患者及吸毒者中丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）的血清流行率。
我们使用第三代酶免疫分析试剂盒，对沙特阿拉伯所有年龄和性别的人群队列，即婴儿、学龄前儿童、学龄儿童、青年人和成年人（献血者及产前检查者）进行了HCV抗体筛查。我们还回顾了1998年至2002年期间高危人群中的HCV血清流行率数据。
沙特阿拉伯献血者的总体血清流行率为1.1%（557813人中6313人）；沙特儿童为0.1%（3854人中5人）；孕妇为0.7%（3127人中22人）。血液透析患者的感染风险最高，为55.7%，而静脉吸毒者的感染率为14%。
我们得出结论，目前的公共卫生计划在沙特阿拉伯王国普通社区中有效降低了丙型肝炎感染，但高危人群中的感染仍是一个需要积极应对的主要问题。
