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Prevalence and clinical spectrum of chronic viral hepatitis in a middle-aged Swedish general urban population

Hoffmann, Gunilla LU ; Berglund, Göran LU ; Elmståhl, Sölve LU ; Eriksson, Sten LU ; Verbaan, Hans LU ; Widell, Anders LU and Lindgren, Stefan LU (2000) In Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 35(8). p.861-865
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although abundant data are available regarding the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV) among both blood donors and patients with liver diseases, corresponding data for the general population are scarce. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and clinical spectrum of HBV and HCV in a general Swedish middle-aged urban population. METHODS: Demographic data and blood samples were collected from subjects enrolled in a prospective study of cancer development in the city of Malmo (population 250,000). The participation rate in the preliminary examination was 46.2%. From 12,445 individuals born between 1926 and 1945 and included in the study, a statistically representative subsample of... (More)
BACKGROUND: Although abundant data are available regarding the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV) among both blood donors and patients with liver diseases, corresponding data for the general population are scarce. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and clinical spectrum of HBV and HCV in a general Swedish middle-aged urban population. METHODS: Demographic data and blood samples were collected from subjects enrolled in a prospective study of cancer development in the city of Malmo (population 250,000). The participation rate in the preliminary examination was 46.2%. From 12,445 individuals born between 1926 and 1945 and included in the study, a statistically representative subsample of 6103 persons was selected. Blood samples were available from 5533 of these. The mean age of the subjects in the series was 58.5 +/- 5.9 years, and 59% were women. The HBV markers used were anti-HBc and HBsAg. HCV antibodies were detected with a third generation anti-HCV ELISA, followed by immunoblotting (RIBA 3) if the test was positive. Immunoblot-reactive samples were analysed for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction and genotyped. In all patients with signs of chronic HBV or HCV, epidemiological data were evaluated and liver biopsies obtained. RESULTS: Of the series as a whole (n = 5533), 4.2% (n = 211) tested positive for anti-HBc and 0.2% (n = 10) for HBsAg. RIBA 3 analysis showed 0.37% (18/5533) to be anti-HCV-positive, of whom 83% (15/18) were HCV-RNA-positive. Apart from two (both from HBsAg carriers) with normal histology, all liver biopsies manifested various degrees of inflammation and fibrosis. Among anti-HCV-positives, median grade was 6 and median stage 1 (Knodell score). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of both chronic HBV and HCV is low in the Swedish general urban middle-aged population. Nonetheless, the long-term effects on the population and the health care system may be significant. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chronic hepatitis, general population, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, prevalence, Sweden
in
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
volume
35
issue
8
pages
861 - 865
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:10994626
  • scopus:0033821257
ISSN
1502-7708
DOI
10.1080/003655200750023246
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200), Clinical Microbiology, Malmö (013011000), Division of Geriatric Medicine (013040040), Internal Medicine Research Unit (013242520), Chronic Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases Research Unit (013242530)
id
acbd5a7c-75c4-4494-accc-20cb1604dfbd (old id 1116857)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:22:39
date last changed
2022-01-28 19:17:44
@article{acbd5a7c-75c4-4494-accc-20cb1604dfbd,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Although abundant data are available regarding the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV) among both blood donors and patients with liver diseases, corresponding data for the general population are scarce. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and clinical spectrum of HBV and HCV in a general Swedish middle-aged urban population. METHODS: Demographic data and blood samples were collected from subjects enrolled in a prospective study of cancer development in the city of Malmo (population 250,000). The participation rate in the preliminary examination was 46.2%. From 12,445 individuals born between 1926 and 1945 and included in the study, a statistically representative subsample of 6103 persons was selected. Blood samples were available from 5533 of these. The mean age of the subjects in the series was 58.5 +/- 5.9 years, and 59% were women. The HBV markers used were anti-HBc and HBsAg. HCV antibodies were detected with a third generation anti-HCV ELISA, followed by immunoblotting (RIBA 3) if the test was positive. Immunoblot-reactive samples were analysed for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction and genotyped. In all patients with signs of chronic HBV or HCV, epidemiological data were evaluated and liver biopsies obtained. RESULTS: Of the series as a whole (n = 5533), 4.2% (n = 211) tested positive for anti-HBc and 0.2% (n = 10) for HBsAg. RIBA 3 analysis showed 0.37% (18/5533) to be anti-HCV-positive, of whom 83% (15/18) were HCV-RNA-positive. Apart from two (both from HBsAg carriers) with normal histology, all liver biopsies manifested various degrees of inflammation and fibrosis. Among anti-HCV-positives, median grade was 6 and median stage 1 (Knodell score). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of both chronic HBV and HCV is low in the Swedish general urban middle-aged population. Nonetheless, the long-term effects on the population and the health care system may be significant.}},
  author       = {{Hoffmann, Gunilla and Berglund, Göran and Elmståhl, Sölve and Eriksson, Sten and Verbaan, Hans and Widell, Anders and Lindgren, Stefan}},
  issn         = {{1502-7708}},
  keywords     = {{Chronic hepatitis; general population; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; prevalence; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{861--865}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology}},
  title        = {{Prevalence and clinical spectrum of chronic viral hepatitis in a middle-aged Swedish general urban population}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/003655200750023246}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/003655200750023246}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}