Hepatitis C virus antibody, viral RNA and genotypes in leprous patients in Japan

Markers of hepatitis C virus infection were tested for in 229 patient with leprosy (male 154, female 75) in Japan. Results: Antibody to hepatitis C virus by a second-generation enzyme immunoassay was detected in 68 patients (30%), and RNA of hepatitis C virus in 41 (18%), in prevalence rates much higher (p<0.001) than those in matched controls ( or 1.2% and or 1.0%, respectively). Hepatitis C virus genotypes were II/1b in 37 (90%), III/2a in three (7%) and IV/2b in one (2%), in which II/1b was more frequently (p/0.003) represented than in hepatitis C virus carriers without leprosy in Japan ( or 68%). The 41 patients with hepatitis C virus viremia had serum transaminase levels significantly higher than those in the other 188 patients without viremia (p<0.01). Conclusions: These results indicate that leprous patients confined in institutions are at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection, and that patients infected with hepatitis C virus should be monitored for liver function and placed on interferon therapy whenever required.