Transmission of hepatitis C in an isolated area in Japan: Community-acquired infection

Kiyosawa, Kendo; Tanaka, Eiji; Sodeyama, Takeshi; Yoshizawa, Kaname; Yabu, Koji; Furuta, Kiyoshi; Imai, Haruhiko; Nakano, Yoshitaka; Usuda, Seiichi; Uemura, Kazuhide; Furuta, Seiichi; Watanabe, Yohko; Watanabe, Junnosuke; Fukuda, Yoshihide; Takayama, Tetsuo

doi:10.1016/0016-5085(94)90416-2

Cited by 162 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Seroprevalence of HCV infection varies widely between and within countries, ranging from 1 -2% in most western countries (Dubois et al, 1997;Alter et al, 1999;Goritsas et al, 2000), and in non-endemic areas in Japan (Kiyosawa et al, 1994;Kayaba et al, 1998) to more than 15% in Egypt (Frank et al, 2000), Italy (Raffaele et al, 2001), and in endemic areas of Japan (Kiyosawa et al, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

Shin

Kim

et al. 2002

Br J Cancer

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A cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of and the risk factors for hepatitis C and B viruses among 700 adults above the age of 40 years in a rural area of South Korea. Seropositivity for hepatitis C virus antibody (11.0%, 95% confidence interval: 8.7 -13.6) was higher than that for hepatitis B surface antigen (4.4%, 95% confidence interval: 3.0 -6.2). Anti-hepatitis C virus seropositivity was associated with a history of repeated acupuncture (odds ratio=2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.1 -4.0), and blood transfusion (odds ratio=5.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.6 -19.3) before 1992 when hepatitis C virus screening in blood donors became mandatory. Hepatitis C virus 2a was the most prevalent genotype, followed by 1b. Hepatitis C virus risk attributable to acupuncture was 38% (9% for men and 55% for women). Safer acupuncture practice has become a priority for hepatitis C virus prevention in South Korea. Liver cancer mortality in South Korea is one of the highest in the world at 30.3 and 9.7 per 100 000 for men and women, respectively (world age-standardised WHO, 1998). Both hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) infection are strong risk factors for the development of liver cancer in South Korea (Shin et al, 1996), as well as in other countries (IARC, 1994). In 1991, HBV was found to be the most important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea (Yoo et al, 1991). Since then, however, HCV infection has shown a stronger association in elderly HCC patients (Lee et al, 1993;Huh et al, 1998).Since the introduction of an HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test for screening blood donors in Korea in April 1991, HCV exposure among blood recipients has decreased. However, HCV transmission may still be prevalent in certain areas, due to such practices as acupuncture. Indeed, a history of acupuncture has been reported by more than one third of subjects in a study in South Korea (Shin et al, 2000). Major indications for acupuncture include arthritis and other joint diseases, the sequelae of trauma, headache, and a broad range of minor diseases not responding to conventional medical treatments (http://www.acu.pe.kr).A survey in 1993 in a rural district showed a high prevalence of anti-HCV (5.5% among subjects over 10 years of age) and suggested a role for parenteral viral exposure other than blood transfusion (Shin et al, 2000). We therefore conducted a crosssectional study in a different part of the same rural area. METHODS Study area and subjectsThe study area was in a rural part of south-east Korea (population 4500) where mortality rates for liver cancer are 120% and 50% higher than the national average in men and women, respectively (Lee et al, 2001). The majority of the population in the study area is employed in agriculture, and their socio-cultural characteristics are similar to those in other rural areas in Korea.In 1999, the 2299 inhabitants of the area over 40 years of age formed the target population for a survey in the preparation for a large prospective cohort study (Yoo et al, 2002). The survey aimed...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

Shin

Kim

et al. 2002

Br J Cancer

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“…29 However, there are endemic areas for HCV in coun- tries with a low overall prevalence, such as Taiwan 4−11 and Japan. 12,13 In addition, some communities endemic for hepatitis C show significant mortality due to HCC. 4 The major factor involved in transmission of HCV might be iatrogenic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4−11 The major etiology of HCV transmission in these isolated areas was iatrogenic contamination, 8−11 which was also seen in Japanese studies. 12,13 To prevent and control this problem, identifying all areas endemic for HCV is essential. Because of financial considerations, it is impossible to screen for anti-HCV in the entire population of Taiwan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a community by the prevalence of elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase: a method to identify areas endemic for HCV.

Lu¹,

Wang²,

Kuo³

et al. 2002

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. To identify areas endemic for hepatitis C virus (HCV), we attempted to predict the prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in a community by the prevalence of elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The results of health examinations of 2,273 women Ն 40 years old in five townships in central Taiwan were analyzed. The overall prevalence of elevated ALT levels was 11.6%. A township (20.3%) and 10 villages were identified as having a high prevalence (17.9−40.0%) of elevated ALT levels. Five communities with variant rates of elevated ALT levels, which ranged from 8.0% to 27.3%, were selected for correlation with the prevalence of anti-HCV among adults (Ն 40 years old). The prevalence of anti-HCV, which ranged from 10.1% to 72.1%, were obtained by community screenings and/or hospital-based studies. The correlation equation used was the prevalence of anti-HCV (%) ‫ס‬ 3.33 × (prevalence of elevated ALT levels (%) -5.7%) (r 2 ‫ס‬ 0.94, P < 0.01). Using this method, areas endemic for HCV can be identified by determining the community prevalence of elevated ALT levels.

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“…HBV is endemic in Japan, and approximately 20% Japanese individuals are infected with HBV (Kiyosawa et al 1994). Therefore, HBV screening before treatment should be more strictly performed in Japan than in other non-endemic countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases in Tohoku Area: A Retrospective Multicenter Survey

Watanabe

Ishii

Kobayashi

et al. 2014

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has been increasingly recognized in patients receiving chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy; however, the prevalence of HBV infection and rate of HBV screening in patients with rheumatic diseases remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and fulminant HBV hepatitis in patients with rheumatic diseases. We also investigated the rate of HBV screening before immunosuppressive therapy in patients with rheumatic diseases. A retrospective questionnaire survey was conducted in the North-east area (Tohoku) of Japan. Questionnaires, comprising 6 questions, were sent to 318 rheumatologists in May 2010, and responses were gathered until June 2011. In total, 71 rheumatologists (22.3%) responded to the survey. We enrolled 7,650 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 1,031 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When limited to institutes at which almost all (≥ 90%) patients were tested for HBV serology, 1.1% (40/3,580) patients with RA and 0.3% (3/1,128) patients with SLE were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 25.2% (177/703) patients with RA and 13.7% (34/248) patients with SLE were positive for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb).

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Transmission of hepatitis C in an isolated area in Japan: Community-acquired infection

Cited by 162 publications

References 24 publications

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in a rural area of South Korea: the role of acupuncture

Predicting the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a community by the prevalence of elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase: a method to identify areas endemic for HCV.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases in Tohoku Area: A Retrospective Multicenter Survey

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