title: Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in jordan.
abstract: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in our hemodialysis population, we carried out a survey of 273 adult hemodialysis patients in three hemodialysis units in Jordan using a second generation rapid enzyme immunoassay. Sixty seven patients were seropositive with a prevalence of 24.5%. All patients were transfusion dependent except two. More than 85% of the patients have been on hemodialysis for more than two years. Co-infection with hepatitis B virus was observed in six patients. Abnormal liver functions were seen in five patients, but liver biopsies were not done. The prevalence of hepatitis C antibody in healthy blood donors in Jordan is 1.7%. We conclude that HCV infection prevalence in hemodialysis patients in Jordan is 24.5%, a percentage similar to what has been reported around the world and in the neighboring countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical School, Jordan University, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hamzeh
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mehyar
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rababah