title: Prevalence of HCV infections among hemodialysis patients in Al Gharbiyah Governorate, Egypt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant problem for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment. This medical problem has never been studied in Al Gharbiyah Governorate; this study was conducted aiming to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV positive patients and the incidence of seroconversion in its different HD units.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 2351 patients maintained on HD in the eight towns of Al Gharbiyah Governorate were interviewed and their anti-HCV status was tested by a third-generation enzyme immunoassay. Patients who tested negative for anti-HCV at the start of the study were re-assessed monthly for HCV seroconversion and at the end of the study all patients were screened for HCV antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the start of our study in March 2011, we found that 824 out of 2351 patients (35%) were anti-HCV reactive. At the end of study in November 2011, we found that HCV seroconversion occurred in 168 out of 1527 patients (11%) who were HCV free at the start of the study. By the end of the study, a total of 42.2% were found to be anti-HCV reactive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated high prevalence of anti-HCV in HD units in Al Gharbiyah Governorate. Similar studies must be conducted in all Egyptian governorates' HD units to evaluate this major health problem all over Egypt. We also encourage strict application of preventive strategies for HCV infection in all health institutes, especially HD units.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Egypt; HCV; Hemodialysis; Seroconversion.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department of Tanta University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Samy A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khodir
authors.forename: Mervt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alghateb
authors.forename: Kamal M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Okasha
authors.forename: Safenaz El-Saed
authors.initials: Sel-S
authors.lastname: Shalaby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D055815:Young Adult