TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Antibody in Patients With Sexually Transmitted Diseases Attending a Harrisburg, PA, STD Clinic
AU - Sautter, Robert L.
AU - Jones, Sharon
AU - Weber, Daniel I.
AU - LeBar, William D.
AU - Heitjan, Daniel F.
AU - Kopreski, Mary Magdalene G.
AU - Gurcio, Frederick D.
AU - Sautter, Robert L.
AU - Jones, Sharon
AU - Weber, Daniel I.
AU - LeBar, William D.
AU - Heitjan, Daniel F.
AU - Kopreski, Mary Magdalene G.
AU - Gurcio, Frederick D.
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - Objective: The prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic population was studied, along with the prevalence of various STD agents, in an attempt to identify possible STD markers for the hepatitis C virus and help delineate the role of hepatitis C as an STD. The hepatitis C antibody rates found in the STD clinic were also compared with those found among patients attending a local OB/GYN clinic and those enrolled in a blood donor program, all from the same geographical area. Methods: A total of 150 women attending an STD clinic were examined for each of the following agents: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis C virus antibody. Additionally, several patients who signed informed consent to be evaluated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody were tested by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screen method. The prevalence of each agent was then compared with the other agents. Results: The overall prevalence rates detected were as follows: hepatitis B 16%, hepatitis C 4%, chlamydia 18.7%, gonorrhea 7.4%, syphilis 0.7%, and HIV 0%. Hepatitis C antibody was detected in 4% of patients in the STD clinic, 0.76% of volunteer blood donors from central Pennsylvania, and 0% of patients studied from the Harrisburg Hospital (Harrisburg, PA) prenatal population. Conclusions: This screening study reveals an association between attending a Harrisburg, PA, area STD clinic and having an increased prevalence of hepatitis C antibody, but larger matched control studies will be needed to help clarify sexual transmission as a mode of transmission for the hepatitis C virus.
AB - Objective: The prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic population was studied, along with the prevalence of various STD agents, in an attempt to identify possible STD markers for the hepatitis C virus and help delineate the role of hepatitis C as an STD. The hepatitis C antibody rates found in the STD clinic were also compared with those found among patients attending a local OB/GYN clinic and those enrolled in a blood donor program, all from the same geographical area. Methods: A total of 150 women attending an STD clinic were examined for each of the following agents: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis C virus antibody. Additionally, several patients who signed informed consent to be evaluated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody were tested by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screen method. The prevalence of each agent was then compared with the other agents. Results: The overall prevalence rates detected were as follows: hepatitis B 16%, hepatitis C 4%, chlamydia 18.7%, gonorrhea 7.4%, syphilis 0.7%, and HIV 0%. Hepatitis C antibody was detected in 4% of patients in the STD clinic, 0.76% of volunteer blood donors from central Pennsylvania, and 0% of patients studied from the Harrisburg Hospital (Harrisburg, PA) prenatal population. Conclusions: This screening study reveals an association between attending a Harrisburg, PA, area STD clinic and having an increased prevalence of hepatitis C antibody, but larger matched control studies will be needed to help clarify sexual transmission as a mode of transmission for the hepatitis C virus.
KW - Incidence
KW - STD
KW - non-A
KW - non-B hepatitis
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U2 - 10.1155/S1064744994000232
DO - 10.1155/S1064744994000232
M3 - Article
C2 - 18475350
AN - SCOPUS:84905192050
SN - 1064-7449
VL - 1
SP - 269
EP - 274
JO - Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
IS - 6
ER -