Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The serologic reactivity and epidemiology associated with different hepatitis C virus (HCV) variants were investigated in a cohort of 113 anti-HCV-positive donors. In Scotland, HCV type 1 accounted for one-half of all infections; 40 percent of subjects were infected with HCV type 3, and the remainder were infected with type 2. Reactivity with the NS-4-encoded antigens in the first-generation anti-c100 assay was absent in 68 percent of donors infected with types 2 and 3, as compared with 10 percent for those infected with type 1. Even when combined with surrogate marker testing, first-generation tests would have failed to detect 12 percent of HCV-infected blood donors. The age distribution, incidence of past infection with hepatitis B virus, and reported risk factors were similar in donors infected with types 1 and 3 (mean ages were 31.9 and 29.9; 18 and 17.5% were positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen; and 47 and 48% had past intravenous drug abuse). However, the distributions of alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly different in those infected with type 3 (abnormally raised in 83%) and those infected with type 1 (55% abnormal alanine aminotransferase; p < 0.05) or type 2 (60%; p < 0.01) and those who were nonviremic (8%; p < 0.0001). These data suggest that HCV type 1 is the most common HCV infection in blood donors and that infection with HCV type 3 may be associated with more severe liver disease, because of more recent infection or because of a greater inherent pathogenicity of type 3 variants.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Transfusion

Publication Date

01/1993

Volume

33

Pages

7 - 13

Keywords

Alanine Transaminase, Biomarkers, Blood Donors, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis Antibodies, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C Antibodies, Humans, Northern Ireland, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length, RNA, Viral, Scotland, Substance Abuse, Intravenous