 |
Maria Luisa RESTA
Personale tecnico amministrativo
Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi"
|
Home |
Pubblicazioni
1992
- The epidemiology of hepatitis delta infection in Italy
[Articolo su rivista]
Sagnelli, E.; Stroffolini, T.; Ascione, A.; Bonino, F.; Chiaramonte, M.; Colombo, M.; Crax, A.; Giusti, G.; Manghisi, O. G.; Pastore, G.; Piccinino, F.; Rizzetto, M.; Stazi, M. A.; Toti, M.; Verme, G.; Almi, E.; Amitrano, L.; Bartoletti, L.; Belmonte, A.; Borgia, G.; Broilo, L.; Budillon, G.; Buongiorno, G.; Buzzelh, G.; Cancellieri, C.; Caredda, F.; Cavallaro, C.; Chibbaro, G.; Ciampi, R.; Cimino, L.; Colella, F.; Coppin, P.; Di Giacomo, C.; Di Virgiho, D.; Fattovich, G.; Felaco, F. M.; Filippini, P.; Fornaciari, G.; Freni, M.; Frezza, M.; Gigliotti, T.; Ibba, M.; Madia, D.; Magnani, G.; Maio, G.; Manno, G.; Manzillo, E.; Marcelli, R.; Marinucci, G.; Marrazzi, M.; Marrone, A.; Mastropasqua, G.; Mele, A.; Messina, V.; Miglio, F.; Milella, M.; Mocci, G.; Naccrarato, R.; Nardiello, S.; Okoliksanyi, L.; Orlando, R.; Pasetti, G.; Pasquini, P.; Peinetti, P.; Plancher, A. C.; Raimondo, G.; Resta, M. L.; Rodino, G.; Romanelli, R. G.; Romeo, F.; Rosina, F.; Ruggiero, G.; Russo, M.; Spataro, G.; Terpin, M. M.; Vigano, P.; Villa, E.; Visco, G.
abstract
The epidemiology of HDV infection in Italy was assessed in a retrospective study involving 1556 HBsAg chronic carriers on their first presentation at one of the 35 Liver Units in 1987. Total anti-HD was detected in 23.4% of HBsAg carriers and was significantly more frequent in southern than in northern Italy (26.6% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.01). Age distribution showed that 73% of the anti-HD-positive subjects, but only 56% of the anti-HD-negative subjects, were under 40 years of age (p < 0.01). Anti-HD prevalence increased with the severity of the liver disease from 3.8% in healthy carriers to 42.5% in cirrhosis. No geographical statistical difference was found among HBsAg healthy carriers or subjects with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), while among patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) or cirrhosis anti-HD prevalence was much higher in the south (p < 0.01). The various potential risk factors were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. HDV infection was independently related to young age, residence in the south, i.v. drug abuse, a large family and household contact with an anti-HD-positive carrier. No association was found with blood transfusion or male homosexuality. These findings confirm that HDV infection is endemic in Italy, particularly in some southern areas, where intrafamily contact probably at a young age may favour the spread of the infection. © 1992.
1991
- Hepatitis-C virus infection in Italy: A multicentric sero-epidemiological study. (A report from the HCV study group of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver)
[Articolo su rivista]
Chiaramonte, M.; Stroffolini, T.; Caporaso, N.; Coppola, R.; Craxi, A.; Gaeta, G. B.; Sagnelli, E.; Zanetti, A. R.; Baldi, M.; Manzini, P.; Crovari, P.; Bonanni, P.; Grasso, A.; Calcagno, G.; Tanzi, E.; Vigano, P.; Gubertini, G.; Puoti, M.; Pizzocolo, G.; Rodella, A.; Delaito, M.; Alberti, A.; Casarin, C.; Mastrapasqua, G.; Madia, D.; Mazzaro, C.; Crovato, M.; Fornaciari, G.; Giovannini, A. G.; Villa, E.; De Palma, M.; Mazzotta, F.; Mazzotta, F.; Meli, M.; Rapicetta, M.; Albertoni, F.; Biondi, B.; De Pisi, C.; Colarussi, M.; Colucci, M.; Coltorti, M.; Morisco, F.; Utili, R.; Marrone, A.; Piccinino, F.; Felaco, Fm.; Petruzziello, A.; Sardaro, C.; Dentico, P.; Schiraldi, O.; Pastore, G.; Mauro, G. F.; Geremicca, W.; Freni, M. A.; Resta, M. L.; Simonetti, R. G.; Di Marco, V.; Camma, C.; Fiorello, F.; Scifo, G.; Risicato, R.; Pilleri, G. P.; Bernasconi, M.
abstract
To assess possible geographical differences in the spread of hepatitis-C virus (HCV), the prevalence of antibodies against HCV (anti-C-100-3) was investigated in various adult population groups in 29 centres in Italy. Anti-HCV was positive in 375 out of 28,433 voluntary blood donors (1.3%): prevalence was higher in southern Italy (1.51%) than in the northern regions (1.28%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Anti-HCV prevalence was similar in the north and south in post-tranfusion chronic hepatitis (91%), haemophiliacs (73%), intravenous drug users (70%), and haemodialysis patients (28%), where parenteral contacts are obvious, and in HBsAg carriers (14%), a group with evidence of previous parenteral contamination. In contrast, anti-HCV prevalences were found to be significantly higher in the south than in the north and central Italy among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (73 vs 59%), cryptogenic liver disease (67 vs 58%), autoimmune chronic hepatitis (72 vs 44%) and alcoholic liver disease (51 vs 34%). These results indicate a very high circulation of HCV in Italy, with maximum incidence in the south and in the islands. They suggest that its spread in the community can occur through inapparent parenteral routes as observed for hepatitis-B (HBV) and hepatitis-delta viruses (HDV) and possibly facilitated by poorer social-demographic and lifestyle factors.