Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and transaminase concentration in chronic haemodialysis patients: a study with second-generation assays.
We used first- and second-generation assays such as Ortho 1, Ortho 2 and 4-RIBA to define prevalence and risk factors for anti-HCV antibodies in haemodialysed patients. Forty-nine (24%) subjects were found to be anti-HCV positive. Anti-HCV positivity was related to duration of dialysis and past or current elevations of GOT and GPT; the frequency of transfused patients was greater in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative subjects; there were 31 patients (prevalence of 20%) with anti-HCV antibodies among non-transfused patients. These findings show that, tested by second-generation assays, HCV infection is detected more than twice as commonly in haemodialysis patients and may be responsible for a significant proportion of liver disease in this clinical setting. Acquisition of hepatitis C virus by dialysis patients is not only through blood transfusions but also secondary to hepatitis C virus presence within the unit itself.
Fabrizi
F
F
Department of Nephrology, Hospital, Lecco, Italy.
Raffaele
L
L
Bacchini
G
G
Guarnori
I
I
Pontoriero
G
G
Erba
G
G
Locatelli
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase