ABSTRACT
From 1986 to 91, 174 dialysis patients were studied. The prevalence of previous HBV infection and of chronic carriers was 33.3 and 4.6%, respectively. Immunization rate after vaccination (3 doses) was 63%. In 1991, we proposed a vaccination with 4 doses and recommend a 6-monthly anti-HBs evaluation to assess the timing of any booster dose needed.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/transmission , Renal Dialysis/adverse effects , Aged , Carrier State/prevention & control , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Cross Infection/transmission , Female , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Vaccines , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Hepatitis, Chronic/prevention & control , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Viral Hepatitis Vaccines/therapeutic useABSTRACT
In our Dialytic Unit, the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) was 16.4% in 1990 (73 hemodialyzed) and 21% in 1991 (105 hemodialyzed). The incidence of seroconversion was 13.1%. The transaminase behavior was similar in a group of anti-HCV-positive and a group of anti-HCV-negative patients and with previous HBV infection. Blood transfusions and dialytic age did not affect anti-HCV positivity.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis C/etiology , Renal Dialysis/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Hepacivirus/immunology , Hepatitis Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis C/immunology , Hepatitis C/transmission , Humans , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Transfusion ReactionABSTRACT
A rapid single-step procedure for the isolation of low molecular weight DNA using guanidinium thiocyanate and phenol as protein denaturants is described and applied for the detection of specific hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences from serum samples by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The novel technique is efficient and, when compared to the standard proteinase K/phenol/chloroform method has the advantage of being faster and easily adaptable to the routine processing of a high number of clinical samples by PCR and spot hybridization techniques.
