Anti-HCV Positivity in Anicteric Individuals with Raised Serum Transaminases.

Abstract

To document the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies, 104 anicteric cases referred by clinicians with vague signs and symptoms and 2 to 3 fold rise of serum transaminases were analysed for anti-HCV antibodies. The clinical presentation in these cases indicated that it is a disease of mild severity with fatigue (86.54%), anorexia (41.35%), and nausea (13.46%). Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) rise upto twice the upper normal limit (UNL) was present in 82 (78.85%) and in 79 (75.96%) cases respectively. 20 (19.23%) and 25 (24.04%) individuals had an elevation of ALT and AST upto thrice the UNL. Serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were normal in most cases. Anti-HCV antibodies were analysed using the ELISA technique (by ABBOTT). Anti-HCV positivity was observed in 45 (43.27%) of the total cases.