Risk for non-A, non-B (Type C) hepatitis through sexual or household contact with chronic carriers

Article Abstract:

The most well-documented route of infection for non-A, non-B (Type C) hepatitis is by blood contamination, through drug abuse, blood transfusion, or an accidental needle stick. However, this route only accounts for half of the known cases. Although there have been anecdotal reports of transmission by personal contact, the risks involved are not known. To determine the risk of contracting hepatitis C through personal or sexual contact, 62 contacts of 44 patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied; 42 of these contacts were sexual partners of the patients. Of the 44 patients, 40 had antibodies against hepatitis C, but none of the 62 contacts had anti-hepatitis C antibodies. Five sexual contacts of the patients had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase in their blood, which can be an indication of liver dysfunction. Since these subjects had no other indications of hepatitis, the finding is either due to chance, or is a clinically insignificant part of the disease process. It should be noted that the patients, who are all being followed at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, may not be representative of all hepatitis C patients. Nonetheless, it was concluded that personal contact with a hepatitis C carrier does not carry a high risk of infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Liver diseases, Hepatitis E

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Volunteer blood donors with antibody to hepatitis C virus: clinical, biochemical, virologic, and histologic

Article Abstract:

Many blood donors who test positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody have HCV as well as some form of liver disease despite normal blood levels of the liver enzyme, alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Researchers analyzed blood samples and liver biopsies of 60 blood donors who tested positive for the HCV antibody and divided these donors into three groups according to ALT blood levels (normal, elevated, at least twice normal). None of the blood donors reported any remarkable symptoms. However, 54 of the 60 participants (90%) had hepatitis as verified by liver biopsy including 70% of the normal ALT group. The normal liver biopsies were from participants with normal ALT blood levels and who tested negative for HCV RNA. Blood chemistry was similar for all three groups except for the variations in ALT blood levels.

Diagnosis, Diseases

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Routes of infection, viremia, and liver disease in blood donors found to have hepatitis C virus infection

Article Abstract:

A substantial proportion of people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) probably contracted the virus from exposure to infected blood. Among 248 blood donors who tested positive for HCV by two different tests, 27% had a history of blood transfusion, 68% snorted cocaine, 42% were intravenous drug addicts and 53% were sexually promiscuous. Sixty-nine percent had evidence of liver disease, but only 5 had severe liver disease. Nine of the sex partners of the HCV-positive donors were also HCV-positive but only one had no other risk factors.

Health aspects

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