This study has been ongoing since 1992 when anti-HCV screening of blood donors was first introduced. The findings to date are in the final stage of preparation for submission to NEJM. The major findings are as follows: (comparisons are with controls who tested anti-HCV by EIA, but were negative on the RIBA specificity assay): (I) Characteristics of HCV infected donors as compared to controls were younger age, African-American race, lower education level and a more frequent history of liver dysfunction or sexually transmitted disease; (2) Risk factors that were independently associated with HCV infection were histories of transfusion, sexual promiscuity, intravenous drug use (IVDU), cocaine snorting and ear piercing in males; (3) Surprisingly, 41% of volunteer blood donors gave a history of IVDU; (4) HCV RNA was present in 86%, confirming that most anti-HCV positive individuals are chronic carriers, but raising the possibility that approximately 15% recover from this infection; (5) There was no evidence for sexual transmission of HC when specific partners were tested; (6) Among 77 anti-HCV positive subjects: 92% had histological evidence of chronic hepatitis and/or cirrhosis. (7) RIBA indeterminates were indistinguishable from RIBA negatives.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Clinical Center (CLC)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01CL002068-04
Application #
5201145
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Clinical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code
Alter, Harvey J (2013) The road not taken or how I learned to love the liver: A personal perspective on hepatitis history. Hepatology :
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