HCV‐related morbidity in a rural community of Egypt

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The origin of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic in Egypt has been attributed to intravenous schistosomiasis treatment in rural areas in the 1960s to 70s. The objective of this study was to estimate the HCV‐related morbidity in a rural area where mass schistosomiasis treatment campaigns took place 20–40 years before. The study sample included 2,425 village residents aged 18–65 years recruited through home‐based visits. Overall, HCV antibody prevalence was 448/2,425 = 18.5% (95% CI = 16.9–20.1%), reaching 45% in males over 40 years, and 30% in females over 50 years. Of those with HCV antibodies, 284/448 (63.4%, 95% CI = 58.7–67.9%) had chronic HCV infection, among which 107/266 (40.2%, 95% CI = 34.3–46.4%) had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). As part of pre‐treatment screening, 26 consenting patients had a liver biopsy: 13 (50.0%) had a treatment indication. Thus, of all patients with HCV antibodies, 13 (2.9%) were eligible for treatment and willing to be treated. The relatively low level of morbidity observed in this study is discussed in view of co‐factors of HCV infection progression, such as young age at infection, absence of alcohol intake, the prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniinfection, and the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B. J. Med. Virol. 78:1185–1189, 2006.