Scully L J, Mitchell S, Gill P
Department of Medicine, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ont.
CMAJ. 1993 Apr 1;148(7):1173-7.
To examine the clinical and epidemiologic features of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a gastroenterology/hepatology practice in Ottawa.
Retrospective chart review.
Sixty-three consecutive patients found to be anti-HCV positive. Their charts were analysed with respect to risk factors, history of hepatitis, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and the presence of hepatitis B markers. The long-term sexual partners of 29 patients agreed to undergo HCV antibody testing.
Of the patients 48 (76%) had been exposed to HCV parenterally: 27 used intravenous drugs, and 21 had received blood or blood products. Eleven patients did not have any known risk factor (sporadic infection), but eight of them had lived in countries where hepatitis C may be more prevalent; the other three had locally acquired infection. The mean serum AST level at the first visit was 140 (normally less than 40) IU/L. At least one hepatitis B marker was identified in 33% of the patients. None of the sexual partners who were tested were anti-HCV positive.
Most cases of hepatitis C in Ottawa are acquired through parenteral exposure; sexual transmission is rare. Sporadic infection in the Ottawa region is rare but may be more common in people from countries with a higher prevalence rate of hepatitis C. Most cases of hepatitis C are asymptomatic.
研究渥太华一家胃肠病学/肝病科诊所中丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染的临床和流行病学特征。
回顾性病历审查。
连续63例抗-HCV检测呈阳性的患者。分析他们的病历，了解危险因素、肝炎病史、血清天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）水平以及乙肝标志物情况。29例患者的长期性伴侣同意接受HCV抗体检测。
48例（76%）患者有经肠外途径接触HCV的经历：27例使用过静脉注射毒品，21例接受过血液或血液制品。11例患者无任何已知危险因素（散发性感染），但其中8例曾生活在丙型肝炎可能更普遍的国家；另外3例为本地获得性感染。首次就诊时血清AST的平均水平为140（正常低于40）IU/L。33%的患者至少检测到一种乙肝标志物。接受检测的性伴侣中无一例抗-HCV呈阳性。
渥太华的大多数丙型肝炎病例是通过肠外途径感染的；性传播罕见。渥太华地区散发性感染罕见，但在丙型肝炎患病率较高国家的人群中可能更常见。大多数丙型肝炎病例无症状。
