Hajiani Eskandar, Hashemi Jalal, Masjedizadeh Rahim, Shayesteh Ali Akbar, Idani Esmail, Rajabi Tahereh
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Golestan Hospital, Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, PO Box 89, Ahwaz, Iran.
World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Aug 14;12(30):4884-7. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i30.4884.
To evaluate possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis C infection and to analyze the characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical patterns among the patients with hepatitis C infection.
During a five-year period a cross-sectional study was conducted among HCV positive individuals referred to the Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals (AJSUH) and Hepatitis Clinic from 1 Sept 1999 to 1 Sept 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion organization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests were performed for two groups. Positive serum specimens were retested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HCV RNA. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. Reported risk factors among infected subjects ("HCV-positive") were compared to those of subjects never exposed ("HCV-negative") to HCV.
A total of 514 subjects were studied for HCV, of which 254 were HCV-positive and 260 HCV-negative donors comprised the control group. Mean age of the patients was 28.4 (Std 15.22) years. HCV-positive subjects were more likely to be of male gender (63% versus 37%). Transfusion 132 (52%), non-intravenous (n-i.v.) drug abuse and i.v. drug abuse 37 (14.5%), haemodialysis 25 (10%), receiving wounds at war and extramarital sexual activities (2.4%), tattooing (3.6%) were found to be independent risk factors of being HCV-positive. No apparent risk factors could be demonstrated in 29 (11.2%) of the positive cases.
Our data indicate that a history of transfusion and i.v. drug abuse and haemodialysis are important risk factors for HCV infection in our area and that more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti-HCV must be introduced in our blood banks. Improvements in certain lifestyle patterns, and customs in this area may be essential to prevent transmission of the infection.
评估丙型肝炎感染传播的可能风险因素，并分析丙型肝炎感染患者的流行病学和临床模式特征。
在1999年9月1日至2003年9月1日的五年期间，对转诊至阿瓦士军迪沙普尔大学医院（AJSUH）和肝炎诊所的HCV阳性个体进行了一项横断面研究。对照组由首次到地区输血机构献血者组成。对两组进行酶联免疫吸附试验和重组免疫印迹法抗丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）检测。阳性血清标本用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测HCV RNA。使用问卷评估风险因素。将感染受试者（“HCV阳性”）报告的风险因素与从未接触过HCV的受试者（“HCV阴性”）的风险因素进行比较。
共对514名受试者进行了HCV研究，其中254名HCV阳性，260名HCV阴性献血者组成对照组。患者的平均年龄为28.4（标准差15.22）岁。HCV阳性受试者更可能为男性（63%对37%）。输血132例（52%）、非静脉（n-i.v.）药物滥用和静脉药物滥用37例（14.5%）、血液透析25例（10%）、战争中受伤和婚外性行为（2.4%）、纹身（3.6%）被发现是HCV阳性的独立风险因素。29例（11.2%）阳性病例未发现明显风险因素。
我们的数据表明，输血史、静脉药物滥用和血液透析史是我们地区HCV感染的重要风险因素，我们的血库必须对血液进行更仔细的抗HCV输血前筛查。改善该地区某些生活方式和习俗对于预防感染传播可能至关重要。
