Detection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA among YoungAdult Drug Users | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 7, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2000, Pages 95-102 PDF (515.8 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2000.11020 | ||
| Author | ||
| Azza H. El. Salakawy | ||
| Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| A study to determine the frequency and potential risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was carried out on 33 serum samples from drug users; admitted to hospital for treatment. Sera were screened for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 11/33 (33.3%) of drug users versus 2/30 (6.7%) of volunteer blood donors (control group), which represent statistically significant changes (p < 0.001). HCV-RNA was detected by one step nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCV-RNA was detected in 7/11 (63.6%) of seropositive drug users, all of them were injection drug users. There was significant association of HCV infection with age and injection drug use (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant relation between the duration of drug abuse and HCV infection. From these findings, I conclude that HCV infections are common among injection drug users probably due to the intravenous use of drugs. | ||
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