Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in a Dutch group of haemodialysis patients related to risk factors.
In January 1992, 122 chronic haemodialysis patients (> 9 months dialysis) from the University Hospital Utrecht and its outpatient dialysis facility were tested for the presence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. The objective was to identify risk factors for HCV infection in chronic haemodialysis patients in an attempt to explain the high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies found among such haemodialysis patients. A second generation enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (EIA) was used as a screening test. Results were confirmed by a recombinant immunoblot assay and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four (3.3%) of 122 patients reacted positively in the EIA screening test as well as in the immunoblot assay; three of these were positive using PCR. None of the patients with anti-HCV antibodies had received blood products other than blood from transfusions, none had markers for a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or admitted intravenous drug abuse. A total number of 2395 units of blood, unscreened for HCV, had been administered to our dialysis group, an average of 19.6 (SD 44.7) units per patient. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among blood donors in Utrecht was 0.03%. Patients with antibodies to HCV had been on dialysis longer than those dialysis patients without HCV antibodies (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 0.99-3.29). We conclude that the risk for HCV infection for this dialysis group can only partially be attributed to unscreened blood transfusions. Haemodialysis itself may play a role in transmission of HCV.
Schneeberger
P M
PM
Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Vos
J
J
van Dijk
W C
WC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies