Sallam, M., Ahmed, H., Soliman, H., Abdel Monem, S., Abdel Wahab, E. (2020). Prevalence and Predictors of Occult Hepatitis C Infection in High-Risk Egyptian Populations. Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 10(4), 364-372. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2020.32501.1091
Mohammad M Sallam; Hanan S Ahmed; Hanan H Soliman; Sameh M Abdel Monem; Essam Abdel Wahab. "Prevalence and Predictors of Occult Hepatitis C Infection in High-Risk Egyptian Populations". Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 10, 4, 2020, 364-372. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2020.32501.1091
Sallam, M., Ahmed, H., Soliman, H., Abdel Monem, S., Abdel Wahab, E. (2020). 'Prevalence and Predictors of Occult Hepatitis C Infection in High-Risk Egyptian Populations', Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 10(4), pp. 364-372. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2020.32501.1091
Sallam, M., Ahmed, H., Soliman, H., Abdel Monem, S., Abdel Wahab, E. Prevalence and Predictors of Occult Hepatitis C Infection in High-Risk Egyptian Populations. Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 2020; 10(4): 364-372. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2020.32501.1091
Prevalence and Predictors of Occult Hepatitis C Infection in High-Risk Egyptian Populations
1Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
2Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
3Department of Public health, Community, Environment and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt.
4Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
Abstract
Background and study aim: Direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) altered hepatitis C virus (HCV) outcomes with a permanent cure in 90% of cases. However, HCV had not wiped out from all cases (1% ~ 15%), which represent occult HCV infection (OCI). The aim of this study is todetect prevalence and predictors of OCI in four high-risk groups. Patients and Methods: 196 participants were enrolled and assigned into four patients groups and one control group; group I (cryptogenic hepatitis), group II (HCV), group III (chronic HBV), group IV (ESRD), and group V (control group). HCV RNA testing in serum and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, hepatic stiffness estimation and FIB-4 score calculation were done for all participants. Results: Significant differences were found among different study groups regarding frequencies of HTN (p < 0.001) and DM (p < 0.001), history of blood transfusion (p < 0.001), history of previous surgery (p < 0.001), as well as mean values of FIB-4 (p < 0.001) and fibroscan readings (p=0.002). OCI was found in 25 participants (12.7%), with different prevalence rates in different groups; being highest in group I (11/43, 25.3%), followed by group III (6/30, 20%). Among all participants, OCI was significantly associated multiple risk factors that include; history of blood transfusion (p=0.004), previous surgery (p=0.017), positive family history of HCV infection (p < 0.001), advanced fibrosis (p =0.015) and high FIB-4 score (p=0.016). Positive family history of HCV infection and history of blood transfusion were considered as independent predictors for OCI. Conclusion: Testing for OCI in high-risk populations and retesting in SVR cases might be needed to help in complete eradication of chronic HCV infection.
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