title: Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis units.
abstract: We performed an epidemiological study of the hepatitis C infection on 112 patients of 3 urban hemodialysis units using a recently developed anti-HCV recombinant based assay. Eleven patients (9.8%) were positive for anti-HCV. Among them, 8 (72.7%) were positive for anti-HBc, one of whom was HBsAg positive and 6 of whom were also anti-HBs positive. Surprisingly, all of the anti-HCV (+) patients were normal alanine aminotransferase. The mean age of the anti-HCV (+) patients was 50.7 +/- 3.3 (mean +/- SE) and that of the anti-HCV (-) was 47.6 +/- 1.3. The mean duration (month) of hemodialysis of the anti-HCV (+) and anti-HCV (-)groups were 52.7 +/- 7.2 (mean +/- SE) and 60.9 +/- 9.7, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HCV among anti-HBc positive subjects was 9.5% and that among anti-HBc negative subjects was 17.6%. This didn't have any statistical significance according to the criteria of the study (p = 0.308). The prevalence of anti-HCV among the transfusion positive group was 11.0% and that of the transfusion negative group was 7.7%. This data showed the tendency for a higher prevalence of anti-HCV among the transfusion positive group, but this also didn't reach statistical significance (p = 0.424). Of the 40 normal controls, none were anti-HCV positive. The prevalence of HBsAg in our hemodialysis units was 12.5%. This rate was not so much higher than the average population in Korea. The prevalence of anti-HCV and previous hepatitis B virus infection also had no significant relationship.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsel University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral