RESUMO
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA in 80 patients with chronic renal diseases was determined. Two sets of primers from the non-coding region of the hepatitis C virus were used. The products [188 bp] amplified by polymerase chain reaction were visualized by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. The patients were classified into four groups. Group I comprised 40 adult patients with end-stage renal disease, 31 of whom were positive for HCV-RNA [77.5%]; group II, 22 children with glomerulopathies, 15 of whom were positive [68.2%]; group III, 9 children with chronic renal failure of unverified etiology, 6 of whom were positive [66.6%]; group IV, 9 children with chronic renal failure due to obstructive uropathy of whom 3 [33.3%] were positive. We conclude that HCV may infect a high percentage of patients with chronic renal failure or renal parenchymatous disease