title: Frequency of Hepatitis C in hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are major global health problems and are highly prevalent in Pakistan. There is limited information on prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with CKD not yet on dialysis. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of hepatitis C in hospitalized chronic kidney disease patients at a tertiary care center in Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was cross-sectional in nature. Patients between ages of 20-80 years with CKD not previously on renal replacement therapy and who were admitted to nephrology ward at a tertiary care facility were included. Hepatitis C was tested using 3rdgeneration enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis C RNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with positive ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 180 patients were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 48.7±14.9 years. Of all patients, 105 (58.3%) were males and 75 (41.7%) were females, 152 (84.4%) had hypertension, 113 (62.8%) had diabetes mellitus and 26 (14.9%) had known cardiovascular disease. Mean eGFR of patients was 11.4±9.4 ml/min/1.73 m2. Of all patients with CKD, 49 (27.2%) had hepatitis C test positive by ELISA. Hepatitis C PCR testing was done in 39 patients with hepatitis C ELISA positive status and 29 (74.4%) tested positive. Risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with and without positive hepatitis C antibody by ELISA were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of hospitalized CKD patients have hepatitis C. Strict universal infection control measures should be implemented in nephrology wards to prevent transmission of hepatitis C infection.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Salman Tahir Shafi, Associate Professor of Nephrology, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Salman Tahir
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Shafi
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Zaigham Hassan, Post graduate Resident, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Zaigham
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Mohammad Saleem, Post graduate Resident, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: Dr. Roshina Anjum, Post graduate Resident, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Roshina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wajid Abdullah, Post graduate Resident, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Wajid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Tahir Shafi, Department of Nephrology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Road JatiUmra, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shafi
keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; Frequency; Hepatitis C