Hepatitis C virus in chronic hemodialysis patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Abstract

Sixteen of 110 hemodialysis (HD) patients fulfilling criteria of non-A, non B hepatitis (NANBH), i.e. alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 50 U/ml in the absence of both serologic markers for acute HBV and HAV infections and clinical evidence of another cause of hepatitis, were tested for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) by enzyme immunoassay (Ortho, Diagnostics). All (100%) were anti-HCV-positive. There were 5 patients with a monophasic (M) rise pattern (1 or 2 ALT rises), and 11 cases demonstrated a polyphasic (P) rise elevation pattern (more than 2). The mean ALT value of the M group was 202.3 +/- 209 U/ml and that of the P group was 116.6 +/- 39.1 U/ml. The patients received a mean of 19.1 +/- 16.2 units of packed red cells during the follow-up period (69.9 months). Only 1 patient received no blood transfusion. Six patients had a past HBV infection and 3 became HIV-infected in the course of this study. The high rate of infection of hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus in our setting points to the need for improved control measures.

• Authors: C F Yoshida, C Takahashi, A M Gaspar, H G Schatzmayr, F Ruzany
• Journal: Nephron (Nephron) Vol. 60 Issue 2 Pg. 150-3 ( 1992) ISSN: 1660-8151 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 1313155 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis Antibodies

Topics

• Adult
• Blotting, Western
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis Antibodies (analysis)
• Hepatitis C (transmission)
• Humans
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (complications, microbiology, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)