ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in high rosk patients coming from Valdivia, Osorno and Puerto Montt. Fiftysix patients in hemodialysis, 51 renal grafts recipients, 42 cirrhotic and 14 patients with acute non A non B hepatitis were studied. Antibodies were detected with a second generation ELISA technique and positive cases were confirmed with RIBA. All hemodialysis patients and renal grafts recipients were negative for hepatitis C virus antibodies. In one non alcoholic patient with cirrhosis, a positive ALISA was confirmed with RIBA. Six patients with acute hepatitis had a positive ALISA tests but none was confirmed with RIBA. It is concluded that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in this region of Chile is very low