title: Seropositivity to hepatitis C virus in Saudi haemodialysis patients.
abstract: Seropositivity to hepatitis B, C and D viruses was studied in 66 Saudi haemodialysis patients from Al Baha region, south of Saudi Arabia, and was compared to that in 380 healthy Saudis from the same region. The results showed that HCV is endemic in this region (3.6%) and the prevalence of anti-HCV in the haemodialysis patients was 45.5%, which is the highest reported so far in this group of patients. Anti-HCV was related to the amount of blood transfused (greater than 5 units) and the duration of dialysis (greater than 3 years). The region is also hyperendemic for hepatitis B virus (67.4% overall exposure rate in controls compared to 75.7% in haemodialysis patients) and hepatitis D virus (HDV; 11.4% in controls compared to 12.5% in haemodialysis patients). The similarity in profile of HBV markers and HDV between haemodialysis patients and controls indicates that the current strategy regarding HBV is quite effective, in preventing the transmission of HBV and hence HDV but not HCV in haemodialysis patients. A strategy for preventing HCV is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: al Nasser
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: al Mugeiren
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Assuhaimi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Obineche
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onwabalili
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase