Incidence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients undergoing chronic dialysis and CAPD.
We measured antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in patients who were receiving hemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Sixty seven patients (28%) were anti-HCV positive. The anti-HCV positive frequency increased with the time of treatment with dialysis, the frequency being 50% with a dialysis period > or = 10 years. The frequency of anti-HCV positivity was similar in patients with a history of blood transfusion (48/152, 32%) and in those without this history (19/89, 21%, p > 0.05). Therefore, in addition to blood transfusion, there may be other routes of HCV infection associated with long-term dialysis. Chronic liver disease was observed in 31% (21/67) of the patients positive for anti-HCV but in only 6% (11/174) of the negative patients (p < 0.01). HCV seems to be important as a cause of chronic liver disease in dialysis patients.
Nakashima
F
F
Namazuda Clinic, Fukuoka, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sata
M
M
Tokeshi
S
S
Nakano
H
H
Nakashima
M
M
Nakashima
N
N
Motomura
K
K
Motomura
S
S
Ide
M
M
Tanikawa
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies