title: The long-term outcome of hepatitis B infection in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Little information on the long-term outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hemodialysis patients is available. We studied 49 hemodialysis patients, seen at three centers between 1969 and 1985, who developed HBV infection. Patients were studied retrospectively and followed for up to 10 years (mean 52 +/- 5 months). Only 20% (n = 10) of patients converted to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, the majority of whom did so within 6 months of becoming HBsAg positive. Twenty-nine percent (n = 14) of patients developed chronic elevation of liver enzymes which remitted in one patient. Only one patient died from liver disease. We conclude that HBV infection in hemodialysis patients more often results in persistent antigenemia and chronic elevation of liver enzymes than is the case in patients without kidney disease. However, the risk of death from liver disease is low.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harnett
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Parfrey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zeldis
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Guttmann
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase