O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar parâmetros sorológicos e virológicos em hemofílicos no Estado da Bahia. O anti-VHC foi investigado por ELISA em uma coorte de 268 hemofílicos A/B sob acompanhamento em uma unidade de referência do Estado da Bahia. A viremia do VHC e genótipos foram determinados em um subgrupo de 66 hemofílicos soropositivos para o anti-VHC. A soroprevalência do anti-VHC entre os hemofílicos foi de 42,2% (IC 95% 36,5-48,1) e foi associada significativamente (p<0,05) a idade >10 anos, presença de anticorpos antifator VIII/IX e outros marcadores sorológicos de infecção. Nenhum dos hemofílicos com idade inferior a 5 anos foram anti-VHC positivos. A viremia foi detectada em 77,3% (51/66), sendo o genótipo 1 do VHC (74%) o mais prevalente, seguido pelos genótipos 3 (22%) e 2 (4%). Nossos resultados indicam que a prevalência do VHC é ainda alta entre os hemofílicos, muito embora a transmissão não tenha sido observada entre os menores de 5 anos.

The objective of the present study was to analyze HCV serological and virological parameters from hemophiliacs in the State of Bahia. Anti-HCV was investigated by ELISA in a cohort of 268 hemophiliacs A/B who were followed-up in a reference unit for hemotherapy in the State of Bahia. HCV viremia and genotypes were also determined from a subset of 66 anti-HCV seropositive hemophiliacs. Seroprevalence among hemophiliacs was 42.2% (95% CI 36.5-48.1) and was significantly higher (p<0.05) according to age >10 years, presence of factor VIII/IX inhibitory antibodies and other infection markers. None of the hemophiliacs less than 5 years of age were anti-HCV seropositive. Viremia was detectable in 77.3% (51/66). HCV genotype 1 (74%) was the most prevalent followed by genotype 3 (22%) and genotype 2 (4%). Our results indicate that HCV prevalence is still high among hemophiliacs, although HCV transmission was not observed in young hemophiliacs.

Patients with chronic hepatitis C can have variable clinical progression. Hepatic histological alterations appear to be milder in asymptomatic subjects who have persistently normal ALT levels. AIMS: To evaluate the severity of histological liver alterations in blood donors with normal and elevated ALT levels. METHODS: We evaluated volunteer blood donors from the main blood bank of the city of Salvador-Brazil. Those who were anti-HCV positive were invited to participate in the study. Serum ALT and AST levels were measured at two time points, two months apart. Donors were divided into two groups: group I, individuals with ALT > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal in at least one time point and group II, individuals with normal or near normal ALT, at both time points RESULTS: We evaluated 30,232 blood donors and 528 (1.7%) of them were anti-HCV positive. Eighty-two attended our service and HCV infection was confirmed in 66 individuals. Male gender predominated in both groups; the mean age was 36 for group I, and 33 for group II. Tattoos and intravenous illicit drug use were frequently-encountered risk factors. Liver biopsy was done in 43 subjects. Among donors with elevated ALT, two (10%) had minimum alterations, while in group II normal liver or minimum alterations were observed in six (26%) subjects. Chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis was encountered in 35 (81%) individuals: three (15%) and five (21%) subjects had chronic hepatitis without inflammatory activity, 10 (50%) and 11 (48%) had minimum to moderate activity and five (25%) and one (4.3%) had cirrhosis, in groups I and II, respectively (P was not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anti-HCV among this population of volunteer blood donors was 1.7%, and these subjects had few liver histological alterations or chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Liver injury severity was significant in patients with elevated ALT, however subjects with normal levels may also present chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in the etiology of peptic ulcer disease. Its prevalence appears to be higher in developing countries. We evaluated the seroprevalence of H. pylori and risk factors associated with infection in voluntary blood donors who attended the main blood center of the city of Salvador, Brazil. The subjects responded to an epidemiological questionnaire, with information about sex, age, race, lifestyle, social-economic level indicators, and residence and hygiene conditions. Anti-H. pylori antibody was determined by ELISA (Cobas Core, Roche). Three hundred and seven subjects were included in the study. Anti-H. pylori antibody results were indeterminate in 33 individuals (10.8%), who were excluded from analysis. Among the remaining 274 subjects, 187 (68.2%) were anti-H. pylori positive. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis three variables were found to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection: absence of plumbing in the residence during childhood, a history of rainwater invading the dwelling during childhood, and low ingestion of milk.

Racional - A prevalência da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C em pacientes sob programa de hemodiálise tem sido amplamente variável. Objetivos -- Determinar a prevalência do anticorpo contra o vírus C da hepatite (anti-VHC) em pacientes sob hemodiálise em Salvador, BA e sua associação com transfusão de sangue, duração de hemodiálise e elevação de alaninoaminotransferase. Métodos - Durante um período de 17 meses, foram avaliados todos os pacientes em programa de hemodiálise, totalizando 395 indivíduos, que responderam a questionário e forneceram soro para análise laboratorial (alaninoaminotransferase sérica e anti-VCH pelo ELISA II com confirmação pelo Immunoblotting (RIBA III). Resultados - O anti-VHC foi positivo em 23,8% (94/395). A presença de transfusão mostrou associação com o anti-VHC e quanto maior o número de transfusões, mais freqüente o anti-VHC. Dos pacientes que nunca foram transfundidos, 12,5% (6/48) foram anti-VHC positivos. A duração do tratamento dialítico foi de 53,44 ± 36,45 meses no grupo anti-VHC positivo e de 22,10 ± 22,75 meses no grupo negativo. A elevação de alaninoaminotransferase foi mais freqüente no grupo positivo para o anti-VHC. A positividade para as frações do RIBA III foi de 79,8%, 100%, 80,9% e 52,1% para o c100-3, c33, c22 e NS5, respectivamente. O anti-NS5 foi ainda menos freqüente no grupo com alaninoaminotransferase elevada. Conclusões - A prevalência do anti-VHC em pacientes sob hemodiálise crônica de Salvador, BA é elevada e está associada com transfusão de sangue, maior duração de tratamento dialítico e elevação de alaninoaminotransferase.

Background -- Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis units has been evaluated in different grographic regions. Aims - The prevalence of anti-HCV in patients undergoing hemodialysis program in the city of Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil, was studied and its association with transfusions, duration of hemodialysis and ALT elevation. Method - During a period of 17 months, all patients undergoing dialytic treatment, were evaluated. The total number of patients was 395, all of whom completed a questionnaire and provided serum samples for laboratory analysis. Serological levels were measured for ALT and the samples were tested for anti-HCV using ELISA II with a further confirmation using RIBA III. Results - Anti-HCV was positive in 23,8% (94/395). The presence of transfusions was associated with anti-HCV and as the number of transfusions used increased, so did the frequency of anti-HCV. Of the patients who never received transfusions, 12,5% (6/48) were anti-HCV positive. The duration of dialytic treatment lasted from 53,44 ± 36,45 months in the anti-HCV positive group and 22,10 ± 22,75 months for the group testing negative. ALT elevation was more frequent in the anti-HCV positive group. Positivity for the RIBA III fractions was 79,8%, 100%, 80,9% and 52,1%, for c100-3, c33, c22 and NS5, respectively. The anti-NS5 was even less frequent in the group with elevated ALT. Conclusions - The prevalence of anti-HCV in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in Salvador, Bahia, is elevated and it is associated with transfusions, a longer duration of dialytic treatment and ALT elevation.