Hepatitis C virus markers in bemodialysis patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

To investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients. Methods Sixty patients were tested for anti-HCV IgG and anti-HCV IgM using a second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); for HCV-RNA using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Results Twenty seven patients were positive for anti-HCV IgG, 24 for anti-HCV IgM and 37 for HCV-RNA. The total positive rate of HCV markers was 63.3% in 60 hemodialysis patients. In transfused group, the positive rate of HCV markers was 69.9% , while in non-transfused was 42.9% . Conclusion The prevalence of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients is serious. Blood transfusion is the main way to transmit HCV. However, there may be other transmitting routes by the dialysis equipment.