Research Articles

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

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C.-H. Chen, M.-H. Wang, J.-H. Wang, C.-H. Hung, T.-H. Hu, S.-C. Lee, H.-D. Tung, C.-M. Lee, C.-S. Changchien, P.-F. Chen, et al. Aflatoxin Exposure and Hepatitis C Virus in Advanced Liver Disease in a Hepatitis C Virus Endemic Area in Taiwan Am J Trop Med Hyg, October 1, 2007; 77(4): 747 - 752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]