Background: In 1992 a screening and medical follow-up programme of patients with hepatitis C was established in northern Norway. We report the data from the eight-year observation period.
Material and methods: Patients with positive recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) confirmation tests of hepatitis C from the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark were referred from primary care.
Results: At the end of 1999, 1,132 RIBA positive hepatitis C patients were registered, giving an estimated prevalence of 0.24%. 236 patients were included in the follow-up study. 75% were between 17 and 39 years of age. Drug abuse was the mode of transmission in 67%. Mean age by the time of transmission was 23 years (range 12-63 years). 103 patients were treated; 136 patients did not fulfill the criteria for treatment. At the time of inclusion, 76% had no clinical symptoms. 36% treated with monotherapy and 47% treated with combination therapy had no detectable virus six months after end of treatment.
Interpretation: Hepatitis C infection is a disease among young people; intravenous drug abuse is the most frequent mode of transmission. The initial phase of the disease has few symptoms. A hepatitis C programme run by public health authorities is highly recommended.