Seroconversion to hepatitis C virus antibodies in patients with acute posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis in Sweden with a second generation test.

28 patients with posttransfusion non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis in Stockholm, Sweden, were studied for seroconversion to hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) and time lag to seroconversion by first and second generation tests. 15/28 patients (54%) seroconverted to anti-HCV with a first generation anti-HCV ELISA using C100-3 from the nonstructural (NS) region 4 of the HCV genome and 23 (82%) with a second generation anti-HCV ELISA including also antigens from the core and NS3 regions of the HCV genome. The mean time from onset of hepatitis to seroconversion was 6.1 weeks (0-18 weeks) with the first generation test and 2.3 weeks (0-7 weeks) with the second generation test. Development of chronic hepatitis was noticed in 14/23 (61%) patients who seroconverted to anti-HCV with the second generation ELISA and in none of 5 patients with posttransfusion NANB hepatitis who did not seroconvert. The inclusion of antigens from the core and NS3 regions of the HCV genome has increased the sensitivity of the second generation anti-HCV ELISA as compared to the first generation ELISA and also shortened the time lag to seroconversion in patients with posttransfusion hepatitis C. Patients with posttransfusion NANB hepatitis seroconverting seem more prone to develop chronic disease than patients not seroconverting.