The connection between tattoos
and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has long been suspected but never completely
substantiated. Tattoos and the connection to the disease were clouded by a
perceived propensity to other risk factors, such as injection drug use.
"Other studies did not exclude patients with other risk factors for
hepatitis C," explains principal investigator Dr. Edmund Bini, "which made
it difficult to assess the association between HCV and tattoos. The
strength of that association surprised us."
Researchers in New York studied 3871 people, approximately half of whom
were control subjects. Patients with HCV were more likely to have had one
or more tattoos, and this remained so even after adjusting for age, sex and
race/ethnicity.
Patients with tattoos but also with traditional risk factors for HCV --
injection drug use and drug transfusion prior to 1992 -- were excluded from
the final analysis of the data of the remaining 1887 patients with tattoos
and no other risk factors for HCV, patients with HCV were approximately
three times more likely to have had tattoos. This connection was
significant even after, once again, adjusting for age, sex, and
race/ethnicity.
The researchers concluded that all patients with tattoos should be
tested for HCV. "It helps to be able to identify patients early who are
eligible for treatment," said Dr. Bini. This information will be further
refined when they complete analysis of assessing the risk of having
multiple tattoos, as well as whether the patient received the tattoo in the
US or abroad.
Abstract title:
Strong association between tattoos and hepatitis C virus infection: A
multicenter study of 3,871 patients
AASLD is the leading medical organization for advancing the science and
practice of hepatology. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD's vision is to
prevent and cure liver diseases. This year's Liver Meeting, held in Boston,
Massachusetts November 2-6, will bring together almost 5,000 researchers
from 55 countries.
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
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