Detection of three types of hepatitis C virus in blood donors: Investigation of type-specific differences in serologic reactivity and rate of alanine aminotransferase abnormalities

F. McOmish, S. W. Chan, B. C. Dow, J. Gillon, W. D. Frame, R. J. Crawford, P. L. Yap -, E. A C Follett, P. Simmonds

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The serologic reactivity and epidemiology associated with different hepatitis C virus (HCV) variants were investigated in a cohort of 113 anti- HCV-positive donors. In Scotland, HCV type 1 accounted for one-half of all infections; 40 percent of subjects were infected with HCV type 3, and the remainder were infected with type 2. Reactivity with the NS-4-encoded antigens in the first-generation anti-c100 assay was absent in 68 percent of donors infected with types 2 and 3, as compared with 10 percent for those infected with type 1. Even when combined with surrogate marker testing, first-generation tests would have failed to detect 12 percent of HCV-infected blood donors. The age distribution, incidence of past infection with hepatitis B virus, and reported risk factors were similar in donors infected with types 1 and 3 (mean ages were 31.9 and 29.9; 18 and 17.5% were positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen; and 47 and 48% had past intravenous drug abuse). However, the distributions of alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly different in those infected with type 3 (abnormally raised in 83%) and those infected with type 1 (55% abnormal alanine aminotransferase; p <0.05) or type 2 (60%; p <0.01) and those who were nonviremic (8%; p <0.0001). These data suggest that HCV type 1 is the most common HCV infection in blood donors and that infection with HCV type 3 may be associated with more severe liver disease, because of more recent infection or because of a greater inherent pathogenicity of type 3 variants.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)7-13
    Number of pages6
    JournalTransfusion
    Volume33
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 1993

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