title: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients in Riyadh.
abstract: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in 190 adults (mean age 40.4 years; range 15 to 75) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on regular hemodialysis in the Nephrology Unit, Riyadh Central Hospital. The overall prevalence rate was 53.7% (48.7% and 61.0% in Saudi's and expatriates, respectively). These figures are considerably higher than figures of 34.8% reported from hemodialysis units in Riyadh, 20% in Spain, 5.5% in Germany, and 1% in the United Kingdom. The possible reasons for the high prevalence of this marker of HCV in our hemodialysis unit are considered and suggestions made for its control.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, Nephrology, and Central Laboratory, Riyadh Central Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Fakunle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mofarreh
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: El-Karamany
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ezzat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Shora
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: El-Drees