ANALYSIS OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS CARRIERS DERIVED FROM BLOOD DONORS -From the Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Viewpoint-

The 501 HCV carriers (273 males, 228 females) detected through blood donations from May 1991 to Jan.1993 were followed for the average of 12. 3 months in our carrier clinic, and those who were indicated for therapy were referred to specialized hospitals. Transfusion history was found in 21% of male carriers and in 39% of female carriers, of which only 16% had suffered from post-transfusion hepatitis.Family history of HCV related liver disease was found in 34 cases (7%). Approximately 70% of the carriers showed normal GPT during the follow-up period.Some of them (11 cases), in which other liver function tests or ECHO showed abnormal findings, were diagnosed to be chronic hepatitis histologically.Analysis of the 45 biopsy cases revealed CPH (8 cases), CAH2A (29 cases), CAH2B (6 cases) and LC (2 cases).Clinical background such as age and period from infection, GPT change and ECHO score differed between the group of CPH and CAH2A, and the group of CAH2B and LC.On the other hand, HCV genotype and HCV-RNA titer did not differ significantly between the two groups. It is concluded that medical check-up of asymptomatic HCV carriers detected through blood donations is important even if their GPT stays normal, and will be useful for early diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis.