Document 0863
 DOCN  M9440863
 TI    Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in patients attending a sexual health
       centre.
 DT    9404
 AU    McKenna JG; Evans G; Lyttle PH; Couper A; Sexual Health Centre,
       Christchurch Hospital.
 SO    N Z Med J. 1994 Jan 26;107(970):8-10. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94126230
 AB    AIM. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in
       patients attending the Christchurch sexual health centre. METHODS.
       Anonymised unlinked serum specimens from 362 patients sequentially
       attending the sexual health centre were obtained and tested for HCV
       antibody using the second generation enzyme immunoassay kit (Abbott).
       Antibody positive samples were assayed for virus by amplification of
       hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA). RESULTS. Twelve patients (3.3%) were
       seropositive and 10 samples were also positive for virus RNA (2.7%). In
       50% of cases the patients had no discernible risk factors other than
       unprotected sexual intercourse. An overall serum prevalence of 22%
       (4/19) was noted within a sub population who admitted to intravenous
       drug use. Ninety patients had, at the time of consultation, requested an
       antibody test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There were no
       antibodies to HIV detected in any of these patients nor any statistical
       difference in HCV antibody prevalence within this group. CONCLUSION.
       Hepatitis C is a common viral infection within the community. A
       significant percentage of patients who were anti HCV positive had no
       discernible risk factors other than sexual transmission which must be
       considered as a mode of transmission. We concur with the Department of
       Health guidelines emphasising the need for safer sex practices in a
       patient with a diagnosis of hepatitis C.
 DE    Community Health Centers  Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  Female
       Hepatitis Antibodies/ANALYSIS  Hepatitis
       C/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Hepatitis C
       Viruses/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY  Human  Male  New Zealand/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Prevalence  RNA, Viral/ANALYSIS  Seroepidemiologic Methods  Sexually
       Transmitted Diseases, Viral/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/  TRANSMISSION
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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