Sex- and Age-Specific Carriers of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Japan Estimated by the Prevalence in the 3,485,648 First-Time Blood Donors during 1995–2000

Abstract

Objective: Carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Japan were estimated on a national basis. Methods: Sera from the first-time blood donors aged 16–64 years in eight jurisdictions of the Japanese Red Cross Blood Center during 1995–2000 were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV). Viremia with HCV was estimated to be present in 70% of donors with anti-HCV. Results: HBsAg was detected in 22,018 of 3,485,648 (0.63%) blood donors including 12,990 of 1,780,149 (0.73%) men and 9,028 of 1,705,499 (0.53%) women, and anti-HCV in 17,010 (0.49%) including 8,504 (0.48%) men and 8,506 (0.50%) women. Multiplying the carrier rate by the population registered in the Census 2000, the total HBV carriers aged 15–65 years were estimated at 967,753 (95% confidence interval 806,760–1,128,745), of whom 571,210 (479,267–663,152) were men and 396,543 (327,494–465,593) were women. Likewise, the total HCV carriers were estimated at 884,954 (95% confidence interval 725,082–1,044,826), of whom 464,363 (377,927–550,799) were men and 420,591 (347,156–494,027) were women. Conclusion: Estimated numbers of HBV and HCV carriers would help plan to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan.

Outbreak of Infections by Hepatitis B Virus Genotype A and Transmission of Genetic Drug Resistance in Patients Coinfected with HIV-1 in Japan

“…All HBV/HIV-1-coinfected patients were MSM, they had a 10-fold-higher prevalence (7.9%) than that of the general population, and genotype A was the predominant HBV genotype (31). This distinct HBV epidemic in MSM was first reported in 2001 in other regions of the country (9,36), a decade before our study.…”

“…The number of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected persons in Japan is estimated to be 1 million, or 0.8% of the total population (31). HBV is classified into eight genotypes, A to H, by their differences in genome sequences (11,12,22).…”

Prevalence of transmissible viral disease in maternal blood samples of autologous umbilical cord blood in a private cord blood bank

“…Prevalence rates of 0.49% in Japan [23] and 1% in China [24] have been reported with peaks in certain areas (30.13% in Hubei province and 31.86% in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) [25,26]. In the present study, the prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV-NAT are 0.33% and 0.14% respectively compared to 2% previously reported in Thailand [27,28].…”

Natural interferon-beta treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C in Japan

“…There are an estimated 1 million HCV-infected patients in Japan [16,17] . In Japan, as many people live to an advanced age [18] , HCV-infected patients are also growing older [16,17,19] .…”

“…In Japan, as many people live to an advanced age [18] , HCV-infected patients are also growing older [16,17,19] . Peginterferon-alpha plus ribavirin may lead to a approximately 50% SVR and approximately 80% SVR, respectively, in HCV genotype 1 treated for 48-72 wk and genotype 2-infected Japanese patients treated for 24 wk [14] .…”