ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C [HCV] and B [HBV] infections are commonly seen in dialysis patients, but them long-term deleterious effects in these patients are unknown. We evaluated the effect of HCV and HBV infections on anemia in our hemodialysis population. A total of 90 chronic hemodialysis patients with anemia at kamkar and Hazrat Valiasr hemodialysis centers were included for the period 3 months, in 2008. Data classified according to the hepatitis-free, chronic hepatitis B and C groups. Nineteen HCV- positive and eleven HBV-positive patients were included for comparison analysis with 60 control patients. Erythropoietin was administered for 3 month. They were followed for 3 months and their hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured before administration of erythropoietin and the end of third month. For statistical analysis, T-test was employed. The mean rise of hemoglobin and hematocrit in hepatitis-free, HCV and HBV groups were 1.50 +/- 1.45 g/dL and 3.88% +/- 5.01%, 2.56 +/- 1.40 g/dL and 7.56% +/- 3.75%, 1.86 +/- 1.17 g/dL and 5.73% +/- 4.11%, respectively. The mean rise of hemoglobin and hematocrit in HCV group was significantly higher than hepatitis-free group and t test showed a significant statistical correlation. However the mean rise of hemoglobin and hematocrit in HBV group was higher than hepatitis-free group but t test didn't show a significant statistical correlation. We found that hepatitis C virus infection was associated with significant elevation in mean of hemoglobin and hematocrit than hepatitis-free group