title: Hepatitis C transmission through dialysis machines.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVAb) were studied in a total of 58 patients on chronic hemodialysis, all of whom were negative for Hepatitis B serology. The patients were evaluated by the second generation EIA test. Twenty-one of these patients, initially HCVAb(-), were dialyzed in unit A (UA), where no patients HCVAB(+) were ever dialyzed nor were patients with increased levels of serum transaminases, although they were HCVAb(-). Thirty-seven patients, also initially HCVAb(-), were dialyzed in unit B (UB), where they shared the same dialysis machines (DM) with 14 HCVAb(+) and 11 HCVAb(-) with elevated serum transaminases patients. Time on hemodialysis for UA patients was 30.95 +/- 10.74 months (range 14-52 months). In UB patients, time on dialysis was 28.46 +/- 17.33 months (range 4-78 months) (P = 0.554). The seroconversion for patients who were initially HCVAb(+) was: in UA, none became (+); and in UB, 17 patients became (+); Chi-square = 11.522 (P < 0.0001). Ten patients were transfused in UA and 23 in UB (Chi-square = 0.638; P = 0.424). In addition, 2.30 +/- 1.5 blood units were given to patients transfused in UA and 2.09 +/- 1.65 were given to patients transfused in UB (P = 0.733). This data indicates the existence of a route of vertical transmission from patient to patient through the DM, which would explain the differences between these two groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Centro Médico Docente la Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pru
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuervo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardila
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies