Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Chinese patients with viral hepatitis and hepatic failure.

Anti-HCV assay with ORTHO kits was done in 100 blood donors and recipients and 374 cases of viral hepatitis, including 65 cases of fulminant, subacute and chronic hepatic failure. None of the 100 blood donors and recipients showed positive anti-HCV response. Anti-HCV was positive in 7.6% of the patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 9.7% of the patients with chronic active hepatitis and 23.1% of the patients with liver cirrhosis. High prevalence of anti-HCV was observed in subacute hepatic failure (60.8%) and chronic hepatic failure (53.9%). Fifty-two (83.9%) of 62 anti-HCV positive cases were infected concurrently with HBV. The incidence of HBV replicating marker in patients with HCV or co-infected with HBV was lower than that of those with HBV alone. It is suggested that HCV might inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus. The mortality rate of patients with anti-HCV positive hepatic failure was higher than that of those with HBV infection. Therefore, anti-viral therapy for anti-HCV positive hepatic failure should be considered.