Volume 82 - 2019 - Fasc.1 - Letters
Screening for hepatitis C viral infection in a non-urban primary care facility in Flanders
Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (1). We performed an opportunistic HCV screening study in a primary care facility in Lendelede (Belgium) in patients undergoing blood examination for another medical reason. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of chronic HCV infection in a non-urban primary care facility and analyze risk factors for HCV infection in this cohort. All adult patients undergoing blood examination were offered HCV antibody testing. Patients were included between 1 November 2016 and 1 October 2017. Patients answered a questionnaire for the presence of risk factors and HCV antibody testing was performed in one central laboratory (Medisch Labo Bruyland, Kortrijk) using the Elecsys Anti-HCV antibody test (RocheDiagnosticsGmbH, Mannheim, Germany). If positive, active viral replication was confirmed by HCV RNA testing. The study was approved by the Ghent University Hospital Ethical review board. During one year, 560 patients were screened for HCV infection (Male : n= 219; Female : n= 341). Mean age was 51 years (18-92 years). In the male patients, 1.8% reported sex with other men (MSM). Two patients reported illicit drug use but no intravenous drug use. Sixteen patients (2.9%) were not born in Belgium. In this cohort, 5 patients (0.89%) showed positive HCV antibodies. Active viral replication was revealed in 3 patients (0.54%). Details are summarized in table 2. Only one of these patients is part of the so-called babyboom generation (1/156 versus 4/400, p value non-significant; Mann Withney U test). One patient was known with HCV infection before the screening was performed. Two patients with active viral replication were referred to a hepatologist for treatment.
