Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the general population and patients with liver disease in China

Universal vaccination of newborns and high-risk populations, along with guidelines for prevention, has decreased the morbidity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection dramatically during the past few years in China. This, however, has revealed a hidden risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Hence, the epidemiology of HCV infection in the general population and hepatitis patients was surveyed for planning the strategy to prevent HCV infection in China. The overall prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in the general population was 3.1% (63/2011) in cross-section studies performed in September, 1993 and 2.4% (38/1586) in January, 1996. During this period, 14 of 517 (2.7%) cases contracted HCV infection. Anti-HCV was detected in 31 of the 436 (7.1%) patients with chronic liver disease and 41 of the 169 (24.3%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the 61 patients who received transfusions, 15 (25%) seroconverted to anti-HCV. These results indicate a significant role of HCV in inducing chronic liver disease leading to hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as a high risk of post-transfusion HCV infection, and warrant effective measures to be taken for decreasing the morbidity of HCV infection in China. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.