title: Hepatitis C virus infection in French hemodialysis units: a multicenter study.
abstract: The aims of the study were: (i) to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (third generation tests) and RNA (standardized ultrasensitive RT-PCR assay) in a large cohort of hemodialysis patients, and (ii) to correlate HCV markers with bioclinical features and alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Antibodies were assayed by two methods in 1,323 patients (60% men, median age 65 years, median hemodialysis duration 3 years) attending 25 French hemodialysis centers including 9 self-care units. RNA was assayed using the Cobas Amplicor 2.0 method in pooled samples from 10 anti-HCV(-/-) patients and on individual samples from the other patients. Of the 16.3% patients (range 0-44%) tested (+/+) for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV), 2.3% tested (+/-) and 81.4% tested (-/-). 70% of the anti-HCV(+/+) patients and 3% of the HCV(+/-) patients were RNA(+). Pooled analysis revealed that 5/1077 anti-HCV(-/-) patients (0.5%) were RNA(+); all 5 displayed subsequently an increase in ALT and became anti-HCV(+/+). Mean ALT was higher (multiple of normal) in anti-HCV(+/+) RNA(+) patients than in anti-HCV(+/+) RNA(-) patients (0.46 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.07, P < 0.0001) and similar in all the RNA(-) patients, whatever their HCV antibody status. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that HCV status was linked to hemodialysis duration, previous kidney transplantation and positive anti-HBc. To summarize, the determination of the RNA status of anti-HCV(+/-) patients may have clinical relevance if a policy of isolation is contemplated. Standardized ultrasensitive RT-PCR assay combined with a pooling strategy is a promising method for use in epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salama
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rostaing
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandres
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase