During the period between April 1992 and May 1995, 3576 volunteer
blood donors had their sera tested for : HBsAg, HCV (antibodies) by ELISA
II and ALT. Sera with high ALT were retested for: ABA, AMA and Anti Bilharzial
Antibodies.
Results
80 volunteers were HBsAg +ve (2.2%), among them only 3 cases (3.8%)
had their ALT elevated. HCV antibodies were +ve in 312 (8.7%) volunteers,
among them 39 cases had elevated ALT (12.6%). 28 cases had
their sera +ye for both HBsAg and HCV Ab (0.8%), among them 4 cases
had elevated ALT (14.3%). 6 cases had their ALT elevated with all other
tests -ye (HBsAg, HCV Ab, ABA. AMA and Anti Bilharzial Ab).
Conclusion:
1. There is significant reduction in the prevalence rate of HBV among
Egyptians reflecting a significant increase in the health services.
2. Prevalence rate of HCV among the tested sample is much lower than
previously recorded rates and this clarify the urgent need for a national
project to estimate the true prevalence of HCV among different
communities as it looks that the differences in the prevalence rate of
HCV are due to the difference in the tested samples.
3. Most of HCV antibodies +ve cases might be either inactive cases or
carriers.
4. ALT testing should not be used as a lone test for blood transfusion
safety as most cases with HCV +ve antibodies had their ALT normal.
5. There is a possibility of the presence of Non -B Non-C virus among
Egyptian blood donors.
HBsAg = Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.
HCV = Hepatitis C Virus.
ALT = Alardne Amino-Transferase.
ASA = Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibodies.
AMA = Anti-Mitochondrial Antibodies.
Ab = Antibody. |
