Prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a population of asymptomatic people in a checkup unit in Mexico City


Por: Méndez-Sánchez N., Ponciano-Rodriguez G., Chávez-Tapia N.C., Motola-Kuba D., Almeda-Valdes P., Sánchez-Lara K., Ramos M.H., Uribe M.

Publicada: 1 ene 2005
Resumen:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has an estimated prevalence of 3% around the world. Unfortunately, many persons with HCV infection are asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C Virus infection in asymptomatic persons. This study was carried out in a population-based cross-sectional study in the Checkup Unit of University Hospital in Mexico City. Patients with two or more HCV risk factors were studied. Serum specimens from all patients were screened for HCV RNA by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA-positive serum was also screened by quantitative PCR and for HCV genotype. Three hundred asymptomatic people were included, 194 men and 106 women, with a mean age of 46.8 ± 11.9. Six (2%) of the 300 people were positive and viremic. The most common risk factors in positive patients were manicures or pedicures with a nonpersonal instrument and more than three sexual partners. We concluded that hepatitis C is frequent in asymptomatic people, and those people are often viremic. In addition, this study suggests that the spectrum of liver disease in asymptomatic and newly diagnosed HCV-positive persons is broad. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Filiaciones:
Méndez-Sánchez N.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, P. de P. 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan 14050, Mexico City, Mexico

Ponciano-Rodriguez G.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Chávez-Tapia N.C.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Motola-Kuba D.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Almeda-Valdes P.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Sánchez-Lara K.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Ramos M.H.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

Uribe M.:
 Depts. Biomed. Res. G., Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico
ISSN: 01632116
Editorial
Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers, VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 50 Número: 4
Páginas: 733-737
WOS Id: 000228205200022
ID de PubMed: 15844710