title: The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus at two haemodialysis units in South Africa.
abstract: The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) was determined in 103 haemodialysis patients who attended two dialysis units in South Africa. With the use of a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UBI HCV EIA, Organon Teknika, The Netherlands) and a 4-recombinant immunoblot assay (Chiron Corporation, USA), antibodies to HCV were found in 22 patients (21%). Statistically significant associations with anti-HCV carrier status were duration of dialysis (P = 0.0005) and number of blood transfusions received (P = 0.008). With stepwise logistic regression analysis it was not possible to separate the effects of HCV status associated with these two variables. A transient elevation in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) occurred in 8 of the 22 anti-HCV-positive patients, compared with 14 of the 81 anti-HCV-negative patients (P = 0.054). As yet, no patients have clinical evidence of ongoing liver disease or persistently elevated ALT levels. Of the 45 dialysis staff members tested, none was positive for anti-HCV.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jankelson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walzl
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase