[Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection]

Doppler ultrasonography: A non-invasive method used to diagnose and follow up patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aimed to investigate the association between the findings of Doppler ultrasonography and transient elastography using FibroScan and to determine the cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity of resistance indices, and pulsatility of the hepatic vessels to predict significant hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS

This is a transversal, observational, and analytical study that includes 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were admitted at a public referral hospital. Transient elastography and ultrasonographic data were collected, and the linear association between these methods was evaluated using the Pearson test. Various Doppler velocimetric indices were compared according to the presence/absence of significant (≥ F2) fibrosis.

RESULTS

There was a moderate-strong linear association between the FibroScan data and the Doppler velocimetric indices and splenic index in the hepatic vessels; the mean values of the indices differed between groups with absent/mild (F0/F1) and significant (≥ F2) hepatic fibrosis. There was an association between the monophasic and biphasic wave pattern of the suprahepatic veins and the stratification of hepatic fibrosis estimated by the values of kilopascal in FibroScan.

CONCLUSION

Doppler ultrasonography is a non-invasive method used to evaluate liver fibrosis, and it presents acceptable sensitivity/specificity for the prediction of fibrosis ≥ F2 in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus and HIV co-infection among pregnant women in Rwanda

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a pandemic causing disease; more than 185 million people are infected worldwide. An HCV antibody (Ab) prevalence of 6.0% was estimated in Central African countries. The study aimed at providing HCV prevalence estimates among pregnant women in Rwanda.

METHODS

HCV surveillance through antibody screening test among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics was performed in 30 HIV sentinel surveillance sites in Rwanda.

RESULTS

Among 12,903 pregnant women tested at antenatal clinics, 335 (2.6% [95% Confidence Interval 2.32-2.87]) tested positive for HCV Ab. The prevalence of HCV Ab in women aged 25-49 years was 2.8% compared to 2.4% in women aged 15-24 years (aOR = 1.3; [1.05-1.59]); This proportion was 2.7% [2.37-2.94] in pregnant women in engaged in non-salaried employment compared to 1.2% [0.24-2.14] in those engaged in salaried employment (aOR = 3.2; [1.60-6.58]). The proportion of HCV Ab-positive co-infected with HIV was estimated at 3.9% (13 cases). Women in urban residence were more likely to be associated with HCV-infection (OR = 1.3; 95%CI [1.0-1.6]) compared to those living in rural setting.

CONCLUSION

HCV is a public health problem in pregnant women in Rwanda. Few pregnant women were co-infected with HCV and HIV. Living in urban setting was more likely to associate pregnant women with HCV infection.

Inability to detect human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2-specific antibodies in a patient coinfected with HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2, and hepatitis C virus

HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and type 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are common among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and can cause chronic infections in the host. Usually, the diagnosis of such viruses employs serological assays; however, some difficulties in confirming HTLV-2 infection have been reported in high-risk populations in Brazil. We present data of an unusual case of coinfection with HIV-1, HTLV-1, HTLV-2, and HCV in a male IDU in which HTLV-2 was detected only by molecular assays. Comparative analysis of retroviruses from 2002 and 2012 showed identical HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 sequences (LTR, env, and tax), and a change in HIV-1 tropism from CXCR4 to CCR5. No mutation was detected in the hot points of the env region of the HTLV-2 isolate that justified the lack of rgp46-II-specific antibodies. These data emphasize the need for molecular assays to diagnose HTLV-2 in high-risk populations in Brazil.

Prevalence of anti-HCV in an inmate population

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C using a rapid hepatitis C virus (HCV) test in an inmate population from the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

METHODS

Through a descriptive study, 195 inmates were evaluated by random sampling.

RESULTS

A total of 9.7% of the inmates were positive. In this analysis, the variable injectable drug use was predictive of HCV infection.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of positive serology for HCV observed among the inmates is of particular concern, as it is much higher than in the general population. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct specific approach campaigns to gather more information on infectious diseases in prison settings, as well as to provide appropriate treatment to prevent viral dissemination.

Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Maracaibo, Venezuela

Over a two year period, the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was evaluated in 29 hemodialysis patients, aged between 15 and 75 years (mean ± SD: 45 ± 39.5 years), from the University Hospital Hemodyalisis Unit, Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. Anti-HCV antibodies were determined using a fourth generation ELISA (Innotest HCV Ab IV) kit and positive blood samples were tested using a recombinant assay kit (Inno-LIA HCV Ab III), both kits from Innogenetics N.V., Belgium. The findings indicate a lack of HCV seroconversion in the hemodialysis patients over the study period, confirmed by the recombinant assay. Risk factors for HCV infection were 0.3270 (95% confidence interval: 0.01323-8.080) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The findings suggest a lack of significant sources for HCV infection due to the preventive measures to avoid its transmission in the hemodialysis unit.