Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infections in dialysis patients and their contacts using a second generation enzymed-linked immunosorbent assay.
The prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was determined in 498 hemodialysis patients from three german dialysis units, 121 staff members and 42 family members using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the second generation which detects antibodies to a structural (C22) and to non-structural (C33c, C100, 5-1-1) recombinant antigens to HCV. Using the second generation ELISA 115 patients (23.1%) were anti-HCV positive versus 77 (15.5%) when sera were tested by an ELISA of the first generation containing only a non-structural antigen (C100). In 34 of these 40 discordant sera antibodies against at least one viral protein was found by a recombinant immunoblot assay. Of 5 sera containing antibodies to only one viral protein (C22) 3 were HCV RNA positive by polymerase chain reaction. Epidemiological evaluation of the patients revealed that the prevalence of anti-HCV was correlated to the duration of dialysis but not to the number of blood transfusions. Of 121 staff members 2 (1.6%) and 2 of 42 family members (4.7%) were positive indicating a low risk of the patients' contacts of acquiring HCV infection.
Schlipköter
U
U
Max v. Pettenkofer-Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Gladziwa
U
U
Cholmakov
K
K
Weise
A
A
Rasshofer
R
R
Lorbeer
B
B
Luz
N
N
Deinhardt
F
F
Roggendorf
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies