[Detection of hepatitis C virus antibody in non-A non-B liver diseases].

Hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) was assessed in serum samples from patients with non-A, non-B liver diseases using an Ortho HCV ELISA kit. In patients with posttransfusion hepatitis, anti-HCV was found in 89% and the interval between onset and anti-HCV seroconversion was 51 to 168 (mean 80) days. Anti-HCV remained positive with fluctuating serum GPT levels in 88% of the patients in whom anti-HCV seroconversion was observed. In chronic liver diseases, anti-HCV was found in 70 to 100%, being more common in patients who had a history of blood transfusion. The average interval between transfusion and detectable anti-HCV was 21.5 years. Anti-HCV was also found occasionally in patients having normalized serum GPT level after the onset, HBV carrier with posttransfusion hepatitis and patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Decreasing anti-HCV titer was noted with the normalization of serum GPT levels in the patients who received interferon therapy. These findings suggest that anti-HCV is closely associated with blood transfusion and HCV infection plays an important role in non-A, non-B liver diseases. The improvement of the current HCV assay system seems to contribute to further evaluation of the clinical entity of HCV infection.