title: Hepatitis C virus infection among patients on hemodialysis: a report from a single center in Iran.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infec-tion among the hemodialysis (HD) patients at the Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Tehran, Iran, and identify the potential risk factors. A total of 112 patients on HD in our two dia-lysis units were studied. The mean duration of follow-up was 27 +/- 27 months (range, 6-132). All study subjects were HCV-negative at entry to the study and were tested for anti-HCV antibody by ELISA II every six months thereafter. Positive samples were re-examined by RT/PCR for confir-mation. Factors that might be implicated in HCV transmission were evaluated. Six patients (5.3%) were labeled as HCV infected, at the end of the follow-up period. Thus, the incidence of HCV infection in our dialysis units was 1.8 per 100 person years. A total of 64.5% of the study popu-lation had previous history of blood transfusion(s) and 8% had undergone prior transplantation. Univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between number of blood transfusions and duration on dialysis and HCV infection. Multivariate analysis revealed that only duration on HD was significantly associated with HCV positivity (OR: 1.03, p=0.008). Our study further suggests that nosocomial transmission plays a major role in HCV transmission among patients on HD. Meticulous practice of preventive measures is essential to eradicate the spread of HCV in HD units.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Research Center, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Iran. nemati203@gmail.com
authors.forename: Eghlim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nemati
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pourfarziani
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Einollahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction