title: Hepatitis C virus in dialysis units: a multicenter study.
abstract: Three hundred and eighty-seven chronic hemodialysis patients were evaluated, in a multicenter study, to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus. In anti-HCV seropositive patients, serum ALT values and blood transfusions were retrospectively compared; blood donors were studied for serum transaminases. In seropositive patients without previous blood transfusions, analysis of dialysis schedule was done. Eventually, the intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus was studied in 104 family members. The prevalence of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients was 15.7%. The incidence of acute hepatitis was frequent, while chronic hepatitis incidence was less than expected (17.5%). Intrafamilial diffusion was low (1.9%). Blood-transfusion-related infections seem to be negligible, while cross-contamination in dialysis units seems to be very important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, General Hospital, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Da Porto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Susanna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Castelletto
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Amici
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teodori
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Okolicsanyi
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase