Hepatitis C virus infection in haemodialysis patients: a clinical and virological study.
A cohort of 66 patients on maintenance haemodialysis was examined for serological (anti-HCV) and virological (HCV-RNA) evidence of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Nine (13.6%) were anti-HCV positive, all of whom had detectable HCV-RNA in their serum. Statistical analysis of various risk factors (including length of time on haemodialysis, history of blood transfusion, history of renal transplantation and of previous hepatitis B infection) showed that only the length of time on haemodialysis was significantly associated with the acquisition of HCV infection. Genotypic analysis showed that five patients were infected with genotype 1 and a further two were infected with genotype 4. The latter finding is of significance because strains of genotype 4 are extremely uncommon in Western Europe. These results demonstrate that intra-unit transmission of HCV-infection took place in a group of patients on maintenance haemodialysis.
Corcoran
G D
GD
Department of Medical Microbiology, University College London Medical School, U.K.
Brink
N S
NS
Millar
C G
CG
Garson
J A
JA
Waite
J
J
Deaville
R
R
Thompson
F D
FD
Tedder
R S
RS
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases