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Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies in Italian Blood Donors
Author(s) -
Sirchia G.,
Almini D.,
Bellobuono A.,
Giovanetti A. M.,
Marconi M.,
Mercuriali F.,
Mozzi F.,
Parravicini A.,
Pizzi M.,
Zanuso F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1990.tb02109.x
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , hepatitis c virus , medicine , antibody , alanine aminotransferase , blood transfusion , significant difference , alanine transaminase , hepatitis c , virus , gastroenterology , immunology , virology , serology
. 11,117 blood donors from 24 blood transfusion services evenly distributed throughout the various Italian regions were tested for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in the serum and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. The results are as follows: (1) anti‐HCV seroprevalence in Italy was 0.87% with a difference between Northern and Southern regions (0.68 vs. 1.37%) and between younger and older subjects (0.62 vs. 1.21%); (2) prevalence of elevated ALT levels was 4.74% without a North‐South effect (except than for markedly elevated ALT levels); (3) anti‐HCV seroprevalence was higher in subjects with elevated ALT (5.0%), with a North‐South effect (2.2 vs. 9.9%) and particularly high (19.2%) in subjects with markedly elevated ALT; (4) ALT levels were elevated in 26.2% of anti‐HCV positive subjects, with a North‐South effect (14 vs. 40.5%).