title: Persistence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in a chronic hemodialysis population.
abstract: In order to evaluate the persistence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a chronic hemodialysis population, we studied 151 HBsAg-negative patients. Anti-HCV titers were evaluated every 3 months over 1 year, and the serum alanine aminotransferase/serum aspartate aminotransferase ratio monthly from the start of hemodialysis. The anti-HCV titers (ELISA C100-3) remained stable in 127 patients and fluctuated in 24, without an evident correlation with hepatic function. Using our criteria, we found 85 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 57 of them with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease. There was a strong correlation between antibodies to HCV and non-A, non-B hepatitis (chi 2; p < 0.05) which was more marked in those patients with biochemical criteria of chronic hepatic disease (chi 2; p < 0.001). We concluded that the anti-HCV titer is reliable as a long-term marker of hepatitis C virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, National Medical Center, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Frazao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pires
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006505:Hepatitis; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase