Predicting the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a community by the prevalence of elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase: a method to identify areas endemic for HCV.

Sheng-Nan Lu Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Jing-Houng Wang Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Yung-Kuang Kuo Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Hsiu-Lin Kuo Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Tsung-Ming Chen Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Hung-Da Tung Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Chuan-Mo Lee Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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Shinn-Chern Chen Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. juten@ms17.hinet.net

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2002.67.145
Volume/Issue:
Volume 67: Issue 2
Page(s):
145–150
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To identify areas endemic for hepatitis C virus (HCV), we attempted to predict the prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in a community by the prevalence of elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The results of health examinations of 2,273 women > or = 40 years old in five townships in central Taiwan were analyzed. The overall prevalence of elevated ALT levels was 11.6%. A township (20.3%) and 10 villages were identified as having a high prevalence (17.9-40.0%) of elevated ALT levels. Five communities with variant rates of elevated ALT levels, which ranged from 8.0% to 27.3%, were selected for correlation with the prevalence of anti-HCV among adults (> or = 40 years old). The prevalence of anti-HCV, which ranged from 10.1% to 72.1%, were obtained by community screenings and/or hospital-based studies. The correlation equation used was the prevalence of anti-HCV (%) = 3.33 x (prevalence of elevated ALT levels (%) - 5.7%) (r2 = 0.94, P < 0.01). Using this method, areas endemic for HCV can be identified by determining the community prevalence of elevated ALT levels.

Author Notes

Published Online:
Aug 2002
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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