title: Risk factors for dialysis-associated hepatitis C in Venezuela.
abstract: Utilizing the first and second generation of enzyme immunoassays which detect antibodies to the C virus we investigated the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies in 315 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Other subpopulations at risk were used as reference groups. One hundred and twenty-three samples (39%) from the hemodialysis group repeatedly showed anti-HCV positive antibodies while only 19% and 1% were positive in the reference groups. The rate of anti-HCV reactive patients correlated with time on hemodialysis (less than 1 year, 17%; 1 to 5 years 43%; greater than 5 years, 64%; r = 0.94, P less than 0.001) and with the number of blood transfusions (1 to 10, 40%; greater than 10, 76%; r = 0.97; P less than 0.001). Length of time on hemodialysis was shown to be the major risk factor in thirty-three anti-HCV positive patients who had no previous record of blood transfusions. Co-infection with HBV was demonstrated in 41% out of 123 anti-HCV reactive patients, and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was documented in this co-infected group. Our results further extend the observations on the predisposing factors to HCV spread in hemodialysis units, and suggest that in these renal patients co-infection with C and B viruses is a major cause of rising ALT activity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Inmunologia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas.
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zabaleta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arminio
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Colmenares
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Capriles
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase