Korean J Med.  1997 Dec;53(6):741-746.

A Study on the Positivities of Anti - HCV by Second - Generation ELISA in Rural Area of Chonnam Province

• Kim MS
• Seo KS
• Kim NJ
• Choi SK
• Suh SP
• Choi JS
• Kim SJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is well known major cause of posttransfusion hepatitis. There were a lot of studies about the prevalence of anti-HCV. But, most of these focused on healthy blood donors or patients with liver diseases in urban areas. So they may not represent the prevalence of anti-HCV in the entire Korean population. This study focused on people of a rural area which consisted of six towns near Reservoir Juam in the Chonnam province in Korea.
METHODS
Nine hundred and sixty three persons were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method from January to February in 19%, Anti-HCV and HBsAg were examined by microparticle enzyme immunoassy(MELA; Abbott Co., USA). Alanine aminotransferase(ALT) was examined by enzyme kinetic method.
RESULTS
1) The positivity of anti-HCV in all subjects was 0.9%. 2) The positivity of anti-HCV in male(1.1%) was not significantly higher than in female(0.9%). 3) The positivity of anti-HCV was 0% below the 5th decade, 0.7% in the 6th decade, 1.4% in the 7th decade, 1.7% in 8th decade, 0% above the 9th decade. There was no significant relationship between the positivity of anti-HCV and age. 4) The positivity of anti-HCV was 0.8% in normal ALT(35U/L) subjects. There was no statistical relationship between the positivity of anti-HCV and ALT level. 5) HBsAg was serologically negative in all of nine anti-HCV positive subjects.
CONCLUSION
The positivity of anti-HCV was 0.9% in rural area of Korea and was similar to the prevalence of anti-HCV in urban areas.

Keyword

Anti - HCU; Rural area; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Alanine
Blood Donors
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis C
Humans
Jeollanam-do*
Korea
Liver Diseases
Prevalence
Alanine
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens