ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus [HCV] and hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection are especially problematic in patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing hemodialysis [HD]. To determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection in HD population in Guilan, north of Iran. In a cross-sectional study, from May to September 2009, in 11 different hemodialysis units in Guilan province, North of Iran, clinical data such as age, gender, duration of dialysis, HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody of 514 HD patients were recorded. Patients with positive antibodies against HCV were tested for HCV RNA. From 514 patients, 286 [55.64%] were male. 61 [11.9%] patients were anti-HCV-positive and 31 [50.8%] were HCV PCR-positive. There was significant relationship between HCV Ab-positivity with gender and HD duration [p<0.05]. There was significant difference between the mean HD duration in anti-HCV-positive and anti-HCV-negative patients [p<0.05]. Also, significant relationship was found between HCV RNA-positivity with gender and HD duration [p< 0.05]. Seven [1.4%] patients were positive for HBsAg. Two [0.38%] were found positive for both HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody. There is low a prevalence of HCV and HBV in HD patients in our region. The rate can be decreased by HBV vaccination of end-stage renal disease patients before setting chronic HD, antiviral treatment and isolation of infected individuals