A 3-year follow-up of HCV-RNA viraemia in haemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a population of haemodialysed patients was studied over a 3-year follow-up period in order to evaluate the changes in viral RNA, diversity of genotypes, and serological response to synthetic HCV peptides.


METHODS
Twenty-eight (32.9%) patients with anti-HCV antibodies from a total of 85 patients assigned to a haemodialysis unit were studied. The serological response to immunopeptides was evaluated by immunoblotting, viral RNA in serum was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and genotyping was carried out by hybridization with probes fixed to nitrocellulose paper.


RESULTS
Of the 28 haemodialysis patients who had anti-HCV antibodies, three (10.7%) were always RNA negative, six (21.4%) were always RNA positive, and 19 (67.8%) were variable RNA. There was an incomplete antibody response to non structural antigens in non-viraemic patients. Genotype was determined in 23 patients, and the other two could not be genotyped. The most common genotype was 1b (69.4%), followed by 1a (17.4%), and 2a, 3a, and 4a (each 4.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Haemodialysis patients, when followed up for a long time, frequently show an intermittent HCV viraemia state, suggesting that HCV cannot be evaluated adequately by isolated RNA determinations.
Galán
F
F
Laboratory of Microbiology, Puerto Real University Hospital, University of Cádiz, Spain.
Pérez-Gracia
M T
MT
Lozano
A
A
Benavides
B
B
Fernandez-Ruíz
E
E
Rodríguez-Iglesias
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral