title: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Due to frequent parenteral contact with blood transfusions hemodialysis patients are prone to acquire hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To determine the role of HCV infection we investigated the prevalence of antibodies to HCV in 188 hemodialysis patients. The prevalence of antibodies to HCV was 7.4%. As compared to anti-HCV-negative patients, anti-HCV-positive patients had slightly elevated transaminases which were independent of the presence of markers for hepatitis B virus infection. We conclude that HCV infection is common among dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kallinowski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Theilmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gmelin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andrassy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deppermann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kommerell
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies