A case-control study of risk factors for hepatitis C infection in patients with

October 23, 2006

J Viral Hepat. 2006 Nov;13(11):775-82.

A case-control study of risk factors for hepatitis C infection in patients

with unexplained routes of infection*.

Karmochkine M, Carrat F, Dos Santos O, Cacoub P, Raguin G; the GERMIVIC

Study Group.

Service de Medecine Interne, Hopital de la Croix Saint-Simon, Paris, France.

Twenty to 40% of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients do not have a

recognized parenteral risk factor suggesting that still-unidentified modes

of transmission exist. In order to investigate potential routes of HCV

transmission for patients with no recognized parenteral risk factor, we

conducted a multicentre case-control study. A total of 450 HCV-seropositive

patients with no history of transfusion or intravenous drug use and 757

controls were recruited from the general population and matched for sex,

age, geographical residence and number of chronic diseases. All subjects

answered an interviewer-administered questionnaire on potential risk factors

for HCV. Eighty per cent of cases had chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Respective percentages of genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 65, 14, 11, 5 and

4. Among the 66 items considered, multivariate analysis identified 15

independent risk factors for HCV infection: nosocomial [admission to medical

(odds ratio, OR = 2.1) or surgical ward (OR = 1.7), digestive endoscopy (OR

= 1.9), abortion (OR = 1.7)], outpatient treatments [cutaneous ulcer and

wound care (OR = 10.1), diathermy (OR = 3.0), gamma globulin (OR = 1.7),

intravenous (OR = 1.7) or intramuscular (OR = 1.4) injections, varicose vein

sclerotherapy (OR = 1.6), acupuncture (OR = 1.5)] and lifestyle-associated

[intranasal cocaine use (OR = 4.5), practice of contact sports (OR = 2.3),

beauty treatments (OR = 2.0), professional pedicure/manicure (OR = 1.7)].

These factors could explain 73% of community-acquired hepatitis C. In

conclusion, for patients with unexplained routes of HCV infection, our data

incriminate previously unidentified risk factors (abortions, some

dermatological procedures, outpatient injections, contact sports, beauty

treatments, professional pedicure/manicure) and confirm those already

recognized (hospitalization, digestive endoscopy, acupuncture and intranasal

cocaine use).

PMID: 17052278 [PubMed - in process]

_________________________________________________________________

Try Search Survival Kits: Fix up your home and better handle your cash with

Live Search!

& source=hmtagline

October 23, 2006