title: Prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV viremia in hemodialysis patients in Taiwan.
abstract: Hepatitis C viral infection in 125 hemodialysis patients from Taiwan was studied using a second-generation anti-HCV immunoassay (EIA II) (Abbott HCV 2.0 EIA) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the HCV RNA in the serum. A total of 59 patients (47.2%) were positive by EIA II. In comparison, the conventional C100-3 anti-HCV assay was positive in 40 (32.0%). HCV RNA was found in 47 patients (37.6%). Patients with elevated serum transaminase level had a higher positive rate of anti-HCV and HCV RNA. The dialysis time was longer for those patients positive for anti-HCV than for those who were negative. A total of 57 of the 59 EIA II-positive cases had a history of blood transfusion. The HBsAg status did not influence the anti-HCV positivity. Among the 59 EIA II-positive patients, 66.1% were also positive for HCV RNA, and of the 47 HCV RNA-positive cases 83.0% were positive for EIA II. It is concluded that the high prevalence of specific HCV infection and HCV viremia was present in these patients. Prevention of cross-contamination during dialysis and blood screening before transfusion are important for the control of HCV infection in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014766:Viremia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral