[Increased skin pigmentation in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis infected with the hepatitis C virus].
BACKGROUND
Skin pigmentation is commonly found in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This symptom is also one of the most evident features of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important precipitating agent of this disease, which has been described in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). In this paper, we intend to evaluate the prevalence of difuse skin hyperpigmentation in patients with CRF infected with the HCV.


METHODS
We developed a transversal study with 47 patients (mean age 50,35 + 15,16 years; 31 men and 16 women) who were on hemodialysis in march of 2001 at the Unit of Dialysis of Hospital de Cl nicas de Porto Alegre. Patients were divided in two groups: group 1, anti-HCV positives (n=17), and group 2, anti-HCV negatives (n=30).


RESULTS
The prevalence of skin hyperpigmentation related to HD was 36,2% (n=17). There were 10 patients (58,8%) in group 1 and 7 (23,3%) in group 2 (Odds Ratio of 2,52 and 95% Confidence Interval of 1,18-5,4; p<0,05). Among patients who have undergone HD for until 36 months (n=24), 6 were anti-HCV positive and 3 of tham (50%) mentioned skin pigmentation (OR of 9,0 and 95%CI of 1,1-71,0; p<0,05). Patients from group 2 who referenced the symptom have been on HD for a longer period than those who did not (63,85 + 11,9 vs. 29,3 + 4,71 months; p<0,05).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV infection was associated with increased skin hyperpigmentation in patients with CRF undergoing HD. Time on treatment was also associated with this signal.
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Cl nicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Humberto Kukhyun
HK
Choi
Fernando Saldanha
FS
Thomé
Tobias
T
Orlandini
Elvino
E
Barros
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000032:analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D011166:Porphyrins