The Study of Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Positive Liver Disease

Presented study was conducted to determine that the hepatitis C virus(HCV) may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease including hepatocellular carcinima and liver cirrbosis.

Using 2nd generation EIA author examined serum anti-HCV in total 2,641 cases, including liver disease, physical check-up subjects at EWHA Womans University Hospital during 1 year of 1992.

The results were as fo11ows : Among total 2,641 patients, overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 4.5%, 1.7% positive rate for subjects whose physical check-up. Among total 103 anti-HCV positive patients, the majority was chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatoma. The positivity of HBs Ag in anti-HCV positive patients was 4.4% and the anti-HBc was 49.5%. The mean ALT level was 69.3 U/L and the abnormal high level was found in 57.3% in anti-HCV positive patients.

On the basis of the results above, anti-HCV test is very useful for the diagnosis and management in not only chronic liver disease such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis, but also chronic hepatitis diagnosed as B-hepatitis.