HCV Epidemiological Survey in China Rural Area

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rate in China is about 3%, which means about 30 million patients. More importantly, many of those patients with chronic hepatitis C eventually develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Our survey found the rate of hepatitis c infection in northeastern China without intervention is 34.3%, due to the abuse of caffeine sodium benzoate. This population has the similar mode of transmission, which is a fine study of the natural outcome hepatitis C. We plan to carry out epidemiological studies for this population, review of the influencing factors of the disease, and analyze the host factors that can effect the prognosis.

Inclusion criteria

• aged from 20 to 65

Exclusion criteria

• Has history of decompensated liver diseases
• Has been treated with other anti-virus drugs,or anti-tumor drugs,immuno-suppression drugs
• Has a history of autoimmune hepatitis
• History of a severe seizure disorder or current anticonvulsant use
• History or other evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than HCV which would make the patient, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study (e.g., hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, toxin exposures)
• Patients with documented or presumed coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease should not be enrolled if, in the judgment of the investigator, an acute decrease in hemoglobin by up to 4g/dL (as may be seen with ribavirin therapy) would not be well-tolerated
• History of thyroid disease poorly controlled on prescribed medications, elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations with elevation of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and any clinical manifestations of thyroid disease