Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among haemodialysis patients in Gaza strip, Palestine.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its associated risk factors among haemodialysis (HD) patients in Gaza strip was investigated using serological and molecular techniques.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of HBV among the four HD centers was 8.1%. The main risk factors were HD center (p=0.05), history of blood transfusion (p<0.01), and treatment abroad (p=0.01). The overall prevalence of HCV among the four HD centers was 22%. The main risk factors were HD center (p<0.01), time duration on HD (p<0.01), history of blood transfusion (p<0.01), treatment abroad (p<0.01), and history of blood transfusion abroad (p<0.01). Serum aminotransferases levels decreased in HD patients compared with normal population but still there was a direct association between the activity of liver enzymes and both HBV (p<0.01) and HCV (p<0.01) infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The much higher prevalence of Hepatitis viruses among HD patients compared to the normal population of Gaza strip indicates a causative relation between HD and hepatitis viruses transmission. Therefore extremely careful observation of preventive infection control measures is essential to limit Hepatitis viruses' transmission in HD centers.
El-kader Y El-Ottol
Abed
A
Microbiology Department, Central Laboratory, Al-Shifa Hospital, and Medical Technology Department, Islamic University, Gaza, Palestine. a_elottol@yahoo.com
Elmanama
Abdelraouf A
AA
Ayesh
Basim M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
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