Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Aug 14;12(30):4884-7.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i30.4884.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C and its risk factors in Khuzestan Province, south-west of Iran: a case-control study

Eskandar Hajiani  1 , Jalal Hashemi, Rahim Masjedizadeh, Ali Akbar Shayesteh, Esmail Idani, Tahereh Rajabi
Affiliations

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C and its risk factors in Khuzestan Province, south-west of Iran: a case-control study

Eskandar Hajiani et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis C infection and to analyze the characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical patterns among the patients with hepatitis C infection.

Methods: During a five-year period a cross-sectional study was conducted among HCV positive individuals referred to the Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals (AJSUH) and Hepatitis Clinic from 1 Sept 1999 to 1 Sept 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion organization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests were performed for two groups. Positive serum specimens were retested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HCV RNA. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. Reported risk factors among infected subjects ("HCV-positive") were compared to those of subjects never exposed ("HCV-negative") to HCV.

Results: A total of 514 subjects were studied for HCV, of which 254 were HCV-positive and 260 HCV-negative donors comprised the control group. Mean age of the patients was 28.4 (Std 15.22) years. HCV-positive subjects were more likely to be of male gender (63% versus 37%). Transfusion 132 (52%), non-intravenous (n-i.v.) drug abuse and i.v. drug abuse 37 (14.5%), haemodialysis 25 (10%), receiving wounds at war and extramarital sexual activities (2.4%), tattooing (3.6%) were found to be independent risk factors of being HCV-positive. No apparent risk factors could be demonstrated in 29 (11.2%) of the positive cases.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that a history of transfusion and i.v. drug abuse and haemodialysis are important risk factors for HCV infection in our area and that more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti-HCV must be introduced in our blood banks. Improvements in certain lifestyle patterns, and customs in this area may be essential to prevent transmission of the infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Alter HJ, Conry-Cantilena C, Melpolder J, Tan D, Van Raden M, Herion D, Lau D, Hoofnagle JH. Hepatitis C in asymptomatic blood donors. Hepatology. 1997;26:29S–33S. - PubMed
    1. Wasley A, Alter MJ. Epidemiology of hepatitis C: geographic differences and temporal trends. Semin Liver Dis. 2000;20:1–16. - PubMed
    1. Tovo PA, Pembrey LJ, Newell ML. Persistence rate and progression of vertically acquired hepatitis C infection. European Paediatric Hepatitis C Virus Infection. J Infect Dis. 2000;181:419–424. - PubMed
    1. Shapiro CN. Transmission of hepatitis viruses. Ann Intern Med. 1994;120:82–84. - PubMed
    1. Fried MW, Shindo M, Fong TL, Fox PC, Hoofnagle JH, Di Bisceglie AM. Absence of hepatitis C viral RNA from saliva and semen of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology. 1992;102:1306–1308. - PubMed