HCV type 3a Nonstructural Protein 5 [GST]

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection has been determined in a seroepidemiological survey among blood donors from the south of Brazil (Florianopolis, State of Santa Catarina). These markers has also been correlated with the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a surrogate marker to prevent post-transfusion hepatitis. Sera from 5000 donors were randomly collected in the period of April to November 1991. The prevalences of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were respectively 0.78%, 7.02% and 13.98%. The anti-HCV prevalence after confirmation testing with line immunoassay (LIA), was 1.14%. Normal values of ALT (< =32 U/ml) were found in 59.78%, values slightly above the mean (ALT between 32-70 U/ml) in 37.74% and high values of ALT (>=70 U/ml) in 2.48%. The positivity of anti-HCV antibodies increased with the elevation of ALT levels. This correlation was not observed in relation to HBsAg. There exists a diversity in the recognition of HCV epitopes among HCV positive donors. Via the confirmation test used, we could observe that 94.7% of donors recognize the structural core antigen. Besides that, we observed that 5.26% of the HCV reactive sera recognized only epitopes located in the NS4 and/or NS5 region, indicating the importance of these epitopes for the improvement of assays.

Knowledge of serum markers of Liver decompensation would facilitate care of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. HCV load and anti-c33c and anti-NS5 levels did not distinguish 28 HCV- and HIV-positive predecompensation patients from 28 matched control patients, whereas more patients than controls had high anti-c100(p) and low anti-c22(p). In multivariate analysis, decompensation was associated with high anti-c100(p) titer (greater than or equal to 1:4050; odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-11.5) and low anti-c22(p) (<1:36,450; OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.0-10.2) and with antibody band strength at 1:50 dilution (anti-c100[p] OR, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.7-48.9; anti-c22[p] OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 1.7-49.2), With high anti-c100(p) or low anti-c22(p), sensitivity for decompensation was 86%-96% and specificity was 21%-36%; with bath markers, sensitivity was 29%-32% and specificity was 93%-96%. Although the mechanisms for these associations are unknown, if these findings are verified in other populations, anti-c100(p) and anti-c22(p) might be valuable surrogate markers for liver decompensation risk.