Outcome of hepatitis C virus infection in Chinese paid plasma donors: a 12-19-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Commercial plasma donation was introduced in China in the 1970s. Cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis (hepatitis C) continued to occur, with multiple outbreaks among plasma donors in Guan county, Hebei province between 1972 and 1990. The outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in these paid plasma donors from six villages of Guan county were followed up for 12-19 years. METHODS: A total of 402 plasma donors with HCV infection were enrolled since anti-HCV-positive in 1991 or 1998. Follow up was maintained until death or the end of the observation period. No antiviral treatment was applied during the period of infection. RESULTS: Follow up was lost in 23 cases. After a 12-19-year follow up, 31 donors died, with the cause of death directly related to liver disease in 15 cases, and an overall mortality of 8.18% (31/379). The incidence of liver cirrhosis was 10.03%, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was 2.90%. The rate of viral spontaneous clearing was 20.32% (77/379), and 13.69% (23/168) in males and 25.59% (54/211) in females. In May 2010, detections were performed in 348 cases. Abnormality of liver function was related to HCV viremia. Sex and alcohol intake impacted the outcome of HCV infection. There was no correlation between the viral spontaneous clearance with age of infection and genotype. CONCLUSIONS: This area has a high rate of chronicity in HCV infection due to plasma donation. Twenty-five years after virus infection, liver cirrhosis or HCC developed in one-tenth of patients, with an overall mortality of 8.18%.

[Thirteen to fourteen years' follow-up of patients with hepatitis C].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical outcomes and hepatic histology of patients with hepatitis C. METHODS: Nine patients with hepatitis, 4 males and 5 females, aged 44 +/- 7, who were infected during transfusion or blood donation underwent follow-up for 13 approximately 14 years: liver histological examination by biopsy, ultrasonography, biochemical examination of alanine transaminase (ALT), apartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL), serum anti-HCV by ELISA, and HCV RNA quantification by PCR. RESULTS: ALT were higher than the normal value at every time point and HCV RNA remained positive (3.57 x 10(8) approximately 7.21 x 10(9) copies/L) in all patients. Ultrasonography showed mild and moderate hepatitis (3 and 6 cases respectively). The modified histological activity indices (HAI) were 5.0 approximately 8.5 and the fibrosis scores were 1 approximately 4. The ALT value was higher in the moderate cases than in the mild cases, and higher in those with higher HAI. The viral load was higher in the patients infected by the virus of the genotype 1b than in the patients infected by the virus of the genotype 2. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes and hepatic histology of patients with hepatitis C seem not very severe.

[Analysis of prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis using the criterion of the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) with Child-Pugh scoring, and the prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. METHODS: 110 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were graded with MELD formula and with Child-Pugh. The death rate was observed within three months. RESULTS: 31 patients died within 3-months. The mortality of patients whose MELD scores were between 10 approximately 19, 20 approximately 29, and > or = 30 was higher than those with MELD < or = 9 (The mortality of those with MELD less than 9, 10 approximately 19, 20 approximately 29, or > or = 30 was 11.76%, 38.18%, 64.71%, 75.00% respectively). The mortality of patients whose MELD scores were > or = 18 was higher than those with MELD < 18 (The mortality of those with MELD < 18, MELD > or = 18 was 26.58%, 58.06% respectively. chi2 = 9.643). The mortality of Child A, B, C was 14.89%, 42.55%, 75% respectively. CONCLUSION: Both MELD and Child-Pugh scores can accurately predict the short-term prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.