. 2005 Dec 14;11(46):7302–7307. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i46.7302

Table 1.

Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis

First author (year) [reference]	Country (ethnicity)	Spontaneous resolution	Persistent infection	Matching	Anti-HCV tests	HLA typing
Alric (1997)	France (European)	25, M/F: 9/16	103, M/F: 58/45	Sex, age, source of HCV infection, HCV-serotype	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
[21]	France (European)	Age: 40.6±15.7 yr	Age: 45.4±12.4 yr	Sex, age, source of HCV infection, HCV-serotype	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
Cramp (1998)	UK (European)	49, M/F: 30/19	55, M/F: 31/24	Sex, age, source of HCV infection and duration	2G line immunoassay	PCR-SSOP
[22]	UK (European)	Duration: 15.5 (3-42) yr	Duration: 14.2 (2-40) yr	Sex, age, source of HCV infection and duration	2G line immunoassay	PCR-SSOP
Minton (1998)	UK (European)	35, M/F: 19/16	138, M/F: 87/51	Sex, age, source of HCV infection	2G ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
[23]	UK (European)	Age: 37.9±10.8 yr	Age: 37.2±10.1 yr	Sex, age, source of HCV infection	2G ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
Mangia (1999)	Italy (European)	35	149	Sex, HCV-serotype, not age,	RIBA and 3G EIA	PCR-SSP
[24]	Italy (European)	35	149	not duration	RIBA and 3G EIA	PCR-SSP
Thursz (1999)	European	85, M/F: 37/48	170, M/F: 74/96	Sex, center, not age	ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSP
[25]	European	Age: 45±14 yr	Age: 50±16 yr	Sex, center, not age	ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSP
Vejbaesya (2000)	Thailand (Asian)	43 Blood donor	57	Sex	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
[26]	Thailand (Asian)	M/F: 25/18	M/F: 31/18	Sex	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
Alric (2000)	France (European)	63, M/F: 21/42	282, M/F: 150/132	Age, source of HCV infection and duration, not sex	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
[27]	France (European)	Age: 42.1±15.4 yr	Age: 46±12.3 yr	Age, source of HCV infection and duration, not sex	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP
Fanning (2000)	Irish (European)	85 Female	72 Female	From single source	RIBA	Reverse line probe hybridization
[13]	Irish (European)	85 Female	72 Female	From single source	RIBA	Reverse line probe hybridization
Thio (2001)	North America	200, M/F: 166/34	374, M/F: 310/64	Age, sex, race	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSP PCR-SSCP
[28]	North America	Age: 25.7 yr	Age: 27.8 yr	Age, sex, race	2G EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSP PCR-SSCP
Azocar (2003)	Hispanic (European)	40,M/F: 33/7	72, M/F: 54/18	Age, sex	EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP PCR-SSP
[29]	Hispanic (European)	Age: 37.9 yr	Age: 39.2 yr	Age, sex	EIA and RIBA	PCR-SSOP PCR-SSP
Spada (2004)	Italy (European)	10, M/F: 5/5	24,M/F:22/2	Not sex, age, source of HCV infection, HCV-serotype	3G ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSP
[30]	Italy (European)	Age: 40.5 (20-61) yr	Age: 29 (20-56) yr	Not sex, age, source of HCV infection, HCV-serotype	3G ELISA and RIBA	PCR-SSP

EIA: enzyme-immunoassay; RIBA: recombinant immunoblot assay; ELISA: enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay; 2G: second generation; 3G: third generation; SSOP: sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes; SSP: sequence specific primers; SSCP: single stranded conformational polymorphisms.