[Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in hemophiliacs in Switzerland].

Abstract

The sera of patients with hemophilia and von Willebrand factor deficiency, collected during clinical trials with virus-inactivated coagulation factor preparations, were retrospectively screened for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). Using the anti-HCV c100-3 assay, 10 out of 35 study patients had no HCV antibodies when entering the studies. The samples originally negative for anti-HCV were retested with a second-generation assay: all negative samples except two were positive on retesting. We conclude that the HCV seroprevalence in Swiss hemophiliacs must be of the order of > 90%. These results confirm that the first-generation assay for HCV antibodies is not sensitive enough; to obtain more accurate information on the seroprevalence of hemophiliacs, second-generation tests should be used.

• Authors: B A Perret, M Senn, P Affentranger, M Poorbeik, J J Burckhardt, A Morell
• Journal: Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift (Schweiz Med Wochenschr) Vol. 123 Issue 3 Pg. 79-81 (Jan 23 1993) ISSN: 0036-7672 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Hepatitis-C-Virus-Serostatus der Hämophilen in der Schweiz.
• PMID: 7678942 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis Antibodies
• Hepatitis C Antibodies

Topics

• Hemophilia A (immunology)
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis Antibodies (isolation & purification)
• Hepatitis C Antibodies
• Humans
• Immunologic Techniques
• Retrospective Studies
• von Willebrand Diseases (immunology)