title: Assessment of peripheral DNA damage by alkaline comet assay in maintenance hemodialysis subjects with hepatitis C infection.
abstract: Despite the high prevalence of hepatitis C infection among hemodialysis subjects, there is no information concerning the DNA damage of hepatitis C (+) hemodialysis subjects. We aimed to find out if there is any additional effect of hepatitis C infection on peripheral DNA damage in maintenance hemodialysis subjects. Fifteen hepatitis C (+) and 22 hepatitis C (-) hemodialysis subjects, 21 hepatitis C subjects without renal disease, and 22 healthy controls were enrolled. Peripheral DNA damage was assayed using alkaline comet assay. Median DNA damage levels of the study groups were as follows: hepatitis C (+) maintenance hemodialysis subjects, 88 (0-232); hepatitis C (-) maintenance hemodialysis subjects, 58 (0-228); hepatitis C (+) subjects without renal disease, 112 (44-252); controls, 26 (0-72). DNA damage level was significantly higher among hepatitis C (+) subjects without renal disease than hepatitis C (-) maintenance hemodialysis subjects and healthy controls (both p<0.05/6). Both maintenance hemodialysis subjects with and without HCV infection had significantly higher DNA damage level than healthy controls (both p<0.05/6). DNA damage level was comparable between hepatitis C (+) subjects without renal disease and HCV (+) hemodialysis subjects, and between hemodialysis subjects with and without hepatitis C infection (all p>0.05/6). Linear regression analysis revealed that hepatitis C infection was the only independent factor in predicting the peripheral DNA damage (p<0.05, beta=0.395). Each one of end-stage renal disease and hepatitis C infection significantly increases DNA damage level. However, in hemodialysis subjects, hepatitis C infection does not cause significant additional increase in DNA damage level, and it may be partly due to protective effect of hemodialysis on hepatitis C infection.
authors.affiliation: Harran University, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey. mehmethoroz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horoz
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolukbas
authors.forename: Filiz F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bolukbas
authors.forename: Abdurrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocyigit
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Ahmet O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Koylu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Hakim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koksal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*