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Tattooing
Is an Independent Risk Factor for HCV Infection on the El
Paso, Texas-Mexico Border
The clinical experience of the authors suggested to them that hepatitis
C virus (HCV) infection in the Texas-Mexico border area
might have features, especially risk factors that differ from
some other areas of the United States.
Therefore, the authors conducted a prospective analysis to investigate
the epidemiology, risk
factors, and certain other characteristics of HCV infection
in the El Paso, Texas region.
During a 2-yr period, individuals with a positive HCV serology were
considered as "patients" and those with a negative
hepatitis serology panel were "controls." A questionnaire
survey was conducted in person or by telephone with individuals
(patients and controls) who agreed to participate in the interview
process.
Results
·
The authors
identified and interviewed 320 patients and 307 controls.
·
All of the contacted
patients and controls agreed to be interviewed.
·
Many established
and potential risk factors for HCV transmission were documented
in the patients.
·
Furthermore,
multiple potential risk factors were often present in individual
patients.
·
However, on
multivariate analysis, only injection
drug use, blood
transfusion, and tattooing were found to be
significant independent risk factors for HCV infection.
·
In the great
majority of patients, tattoos were applied by friends (including
gang members), inmates in jail/prison, or self, rather than
commercial parlors.
The
authors conclude, “Tattooing is an independent risk factor
for HCV infection in this United States Mexico border area.
The role of non sterile tattooing practices in HCV transmission
merits additional examination in regard to precise risk settings,
frequency and mechanisms of infection.”
10/03/05
Reference
W
L Hand and Y Vasquez. Risk Factors for Hepatitis C
on the Texas-Mexico Border. The American Journal of Gastroenterology
100(10): Issue 10 Page 2180-21856. October 2005.
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