Hepatitis C Virus Infection among hemodialysis patients

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 460 serum samples collected from 350 patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis, among them 250 were using dialysis units subjected to routine tests to ensure the absence of HBV and HIV [group I] and 100 patients were using dialysis units without these tests [group II]. Also 110 appparently healthy persons as control group. Serum samples were tested for the presence of Anti-HCV, HBsAg, and Ani-HBs by ELISA. Evaluation of the liver function of those having Anti-HCV was done by colorimetric method to determine the level of total bilirubin, GGT, ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase. The results revealed that there is significantly high prevalence rate of HCV among the dialysed patients [68% in group I and 98% in group II] in comparison to the rate among the control group [8%]. The rate in group 11 was higher [98%] as they were using non-tested units and HBsAg was detected in 27% of them. In group I, using checked units, no HBsAg was detected in their sera. This indicates the effect of the continuous check up of the dialysis units to decrease the chance of infection with these viruses to these susceptible patients. In this work, there was no effect of the duration of dialysis on the infection rate of HCV and HBV. HCV was detected [without HBV] in 30 cases of group I, 2 cases of group II and in 8 persons of the control group. Evaluation of liver function of these positive cases indicate the elevation of ALT-AST and GGT which could be a monitoring parameter for the state of the clinical condition after exposure to this infection. This study show up the great importance of regular check up of these patients for the absence of HCV, HBV and HIV and to keep them using a checked clean dialysis units to protect them as much as possible from infection. Detection of positive cases should be segregated to special units and monitored for there liver function. Much precautions are needed to prevent transmission of HCV in the community in general and among these high risk patients in particular