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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2025, vol. 31, issue1
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2025311.6047
Published online: 28 Febrary 2025
Original article
J of IMAB. 2025 Jan-Mar;31(1):6047-6053
VIRAL HEPATITIS C – GLOBAL HEALTH PROBLEM
Kalina Terzieva
, Ivaylo Pakov
,
Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Pleven, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Purpose: to propose a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and therapy of viral hepatitis C (VHC).
Material/Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory and viral characteristics in fifty cases of VHC confirmed with positive anti-HCV (by ELISA). Thirty-eight of the cases were hospitalized in different clinics in Pleven (2017–2018). The remainders were blood-donors for the Regional Center of Transfusion Hematology – Pleven. The genotype of HCV and the viral load had been investigated by Real-Time PCR in the Laboratory of Virology at Military Medical Academy – Sofia.
Results: The most affected age groups were 30-39 years and 60-69 years (24%, respectively); males 69.81% (p<0.05). Surgical interventions, blood infusions and hemodialysis (26.32%, 23.68% and 15.79%, respectively) were at the highest risk for VHC (p>0.05). Thirty hospital patients were with chronic VHC (78.95%) (p<0.05). Clinical symptoms suggestive of viral hepatitis were fatigue (39.47%; OR 5.25), decreased appetite (28.95%; OR 2.16), abdominal discomfort (21.05%; OR 23.33); 52.63% of patients were asymptomatic (p<0.0005). Laboratory investigations revealed slightly or moderately elevated total bilirubin (mean 53.27±37.38 µmol/L; 95% CI 18.48–88.06), ASAT (mean 231.36±155.82 IU/L; 95% CI 79.91–382.80) and ALAT (mean 294.48±196.26 IU/L; 95% CI 96.37–492.59) (p>0.05). All isolates of HCV had been proved to be genotype 1b. The viral load was detectable in 22 samples (range 683–673,720 copies/mL).
Conclusion: VHC is mostly asymptomatic. Screening for anti-HCV in risk groups and genotyping of HCV will reduce nosocomial transmission, facilitate early therapy and prevent complications of infected individuals.
Keywords: hepatitis C, epidemiology, genotyping,
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Please cite this article as: Terzieva K, Pakov I. Viral Hepatitis C – Global Health Problem. J of IMAB. 2025 Jan-Mar;31(1):6047-6053. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2025311.6047]
Correspondence to: Ivaylo Nikolaev Pakov, Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University-Pleven; 1, St. Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800, Pleven, Bulgaria; E-mail: ivaylo.pakov@gmail.com
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Received: 21 October 2024
Published online: 28 February 2025