title: Hepatitis C virus in chronic hemodialysis patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis.
abstract: Sixteen of 110 hemodialysis (HD) patients fulfilling criteria of non-A, non B hepatitis (NANBH), i.e. alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 50 U/ml in the absence of both serologic markers for acute HBV and HAV infections and clinical evidence of another cause of hepatitis, were tested for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) by enzyme immunoassay (Ortho, Diagnostics). All (100%) were anti-HCV-positive. There were 5 patients with a monophasic (M) rise pattern (1 or 2 ALT rises), and 11 cases demonstrated a polyphasic (P) rise elevation pattern (more than 2). The mean ALT value of the M group was 202.3 +/- 209 U/ml and that of the P group was 116.6 +/- 39.1 U/ml. The patients received a mean of 19.1 +/- 16.2 units of packed red cells during the follow-up period (69.9 months). Only 1 patient received no blood transfusion. Six patients had a past HBV infection and 3 became HIV-infected in the course of this study. The high rate of infection of hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus in our setting points to the need for improved control measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schatzmayr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruzany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies