Korean J Med.  1997 Jun;52(6):833-840.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chronic Hamodialysis Patients(multi-center study)

• Kim H
• Kim KT
• Yoo JH
• Kim BI
• Lee SJ
• Lee EJ
• Park SE
• Suh SY
• Koo JR
• Kim SS
• Cha DR
• Kwon YJ
• Cho WY
• Kim HK

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in patients on chronic hemodialysis.
METHODS
We measured antibody to HCV using second generation enzyme immunoassay(ELISA) test or radioimmunoassay(RIA) and hepatitis B surface antigen, serum values of AST, ALT in 224 patients of six urban hemodialysis units. We also investigated some clinicai parameters such as age, sex, duration and frequency of hemodialysis, the amount of blood transfusion, and hemodialysis of infected patients on separate machines.
RESULTS
1) 33 of 224 patients(14.7%) were positive for HCV antibody. 2) The prevalence of HCV antibody were most significantly correlated with duration of hemodialysis and less significantly with frequency of hemodialysis, amount of blood transfusion but not correlated with age, sex and level of liver enzyme. 3) The prevalence of HCV antibody was significantly higher in a center which did not separate dialysis machine for HCV antibody positive patients than centers which did.
CONCLUSION
Th prevalence of HCV antibody was most signficantly correlated with duration of hemodialysis. We suggest that environmental factor of hemodialysis unit may play major role in HCV infection of hemodialysis patients. So the importance of separate dialysis machine from HCV antibody positive patients should be emphasized.

Keyword

Anti-HCV Ab; CRF; Hemodialysis

MeSH Terms

Blood Transfusion
Dialysis
Hepacivirus*
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis C*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Liver
Prevalence*
Renal Dialysis
Risk Factors*
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens