Results of a screening campaign for hepatitis C viral infection in a Brussels hospital : do we need to go further?

We read with attention the letter of Xavier Verhelst in the last issue of Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica evaluating the results of a screening campaign in Lendelede (1). Patients undergoing blood examination were offered anti-HCV screening, further HCV RNA evaluation and hepatology consultation if indicated. During one year, 560 patients were screened in a single center. Of those, 5 patients (0.9%) had antibodies against HCV. Positive RNA was evidenced in 3 patients (0.5%) and two of them were referred for antiviral treatment. Thanks to those data, the authors highlight the need of screening... Mehr ...