title: Hepatitis C virus infection in haemodialysis patients: a clinical and virological study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University College London Medical School, U.K.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waite
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deaville
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tedder
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases