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- Title
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and the IL28B genotype polymorphism among blood donors and high-risk populations.
- Authors
Yi-Min Soh, Benjy; Kumar, Rajneesh; Sze-Min Ekstrom, Victoria; Yi-Hao Lin, Clement; Thangaraju, Sobhana D/O; Hwee Huang Tan; Kwai Peng Chan; Lina Hui Lin Choong; Teo, Diana; Wan Cheng Chow; Soh, Benjy Yi-Min; Ekstrom, Victoria Sze-Min; Lin, Clement Yi-Hao; Tan, Hwee Huang; Chan, Kwai Peng; Choong, Lina Hui Lin; Chow, Wan Cheng; Thangaraju, Sobhana
- Abstract
<bold>Introduction: </bold>To study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donor (BD), haemodialysis (HD) and intravenous drug user (IVDU) populations in Singapore and assess the IL28B polymorphism if HCV positive.<bold>Methods: </bold>The BD population were healthy volunteers, the HD population were patients who were on haemodialysis for at least six months of follow-up between January 2009 and December 2014. IVDU population was from inmates at halfway houses who consented.<bold>Results: </bold>Between 2011 and 2014, of 161,658 individuals who underwent screening prior to blood donation, 95 (0.059%) were positive for HCV. Of the 42 sera available, common genotypes (GTs) were GT-3 (47.6%) and GT-1 (31.0%). Of 1,575 HD patients, 2.2% were anti-HCV positive. The HCV GT distribution was HCV GT-1 (32.4%), HCV GT-3 (20.5%) and GT-6 (8.8%). 83 halfway house inmates were screened. Of the 47 IVDUs, 36.2% were anti-HCV positive with predominant GT-3 (%). IL28B polymorphism was noted to be CC predominantly 85.3%.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Prevalence of HCV infection has decreased in both the BD and HD populations. However, it remains high in the IVDU population. GT-1 remains the most common in the HD population; however, GT-3 infection is now more common among the BD population in Singapore. IL28B - CC is the predominant variant among the HCV-infected individuals in Singapore.
- Subjects
SINGAPORE; HEPATITIS C virus; VIRUS diseases; HEPATITIS B; HEPATITIS C; BLOOD donors; GENOTYPES
- Publication
Singapore Medical Journal, 2019, Vol 60, Issue 1, p34
- ISSN
0037-5675
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.11622/smedj.2018078