血液透析患者乙型和丙型肝炎病毒感染

目的：调查血液透析患者乙型、丙型肝炎病毒（HBV，HCV）的感染情况。方法：采用酶联免疫法（ELISA）检测了44例血液透析患者的HBV标志物和抗－HCV抗体；PCR法检测HBV DNA，逆转录－巢式PCR法检测HCV RNA。结果：患者HBsAg和抗－HCV阳性率分别为15．9％和13．6％，HBsAg阳性与输血或透析时间无显著相关，而抗－HCV阳性与输血和透析时间明显相关。HBsAg和抗－HCV合并阳性率为4．5％，其血清白蛋白明显低于对照组，结论：血液透析患者HBV感染率与普通人群相似；而HCV 感染率明显高于普通人群，且可经输血和透析传播，HBsAg和抗HCV合并阳性肝功能障碍者较严重。     

血液透析患者透析前感染性疾病标志物检测的临床意义

目的探讨血液透析患者透析前进行感染性疾病标志物检测的临床意义。 方法对在本院进行血液透析的2 568例患者,透析前进行乙型肝炎病毒标志物（HBsAg、HBsAb、HBeAg、HBeAb和HBcAb）、丙型肝炎病毒抗体（抗-HCV）、人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体（抗-HIV）、梅毒螺旋体抗体（抗-TP）检测,并对结果进行分析,抗-HIV阳性标本结果送疾控中心应用免疫蛋白印迹（Western blot）法进行确证试验。 结果2 568例血透患者中HBsAg阳性人数252例,阳性率为9.81%;抗-HCV阳性人数28例,阳性率为1.09%;抗-HIV初筛阳性7例,确诊5例,阳性率为0.19%;抗-TP阳性人数7例,阳性率为0.27%。 结论对需行血液透析的患者在透析前进行感染性疾病标志物检测,能够及时发现潜在感染源,对感染者采取必要的隔离,切断感染性疾病的交叉传播途径,预防医院感染避免医疗纠纷的发生。     

莆田市某村庄丙型肝炎高发流行病学调查

目的了解本地丙型肝炎高发村庄人群感染情况。方法选择HCV感染率较高的一个自然村作为调查点,2岁以上人群为主要调查对象,填表并采集血样3～5ml,分离血清置-80℃冰箱中备用,采用ELISA方法初筛抗-HCV,初筛阳性者用Abbott试剂复查,复查阳性者定为感染者;以莆田市中心血站2004～2006年义务献血者抗-HCV筛查阳性率作为对照。部分标本进行HCV基因型测定。结果该自然村2岁以上现居住人口1106人,抽样调查1050人,抽样率94.94%;抽样年龄2～86岁,平均（32.8±19.4）岁,中位年龄33岁。抗-HCV阳性者303例,阳性率28.86%;其中男性117例,阳性率25.27%,女性186例,阳性率31.69%,男女阳性率有显著统计学意差异（χ2=5.191,P＆lt;0.05）。抗-HCV阳性者平均年龄（47.6±14.5）岁,与阴性患者间有显著统计学差异（t=18.01,P＆lt;0.001）。抗-HCV阳性率随年龄增长而增加,有明显家庭聚集现象。＆lt;10岁者抗-HCV阳性率为0.91%,≥10岁者为2.85%,≥20岁者为9.78%,≥30岁者为33.91%,≥40岁者为53.69%,≥50岁者为55．24％,≥60岁者为58．46％,≥70岁者为66．67％,≥80岁者为45．45％。而莆田市2004～2006年义务献血者中抗一HCV阳性率仅0．22％。108例行HCV基因分型,其中1b型96例,2a型12例。结论福建省莆田市部分沿海自然村一般人群存在较高的HCV感染率,以基因1b型为主;抗一HCV阳性率随年龄增长而增加,有明显家庭聚集现象;感染与职业献血、输血、输血制品、静脉滥用药物的关系并不明显,高感染原因有待进一步调查。     

北京市血液透析患者肝炎等特殊感染合并症分析

目的分析2007年北京市血液透析患者肝炎等感染合并症发生情况。方法北京市血液透析质控和改进中心（Beijing Hemodialysis Quality Control＆Improvement Center,BJHDQCIC）负责组织收集各血液透析中心2007年在行血液透析患者资料并使用汇百通软件汇总,本文仅分析其中肝炎等特殊感染合并症部分。结果2007年北京地区行血液透析患者共7795例,男女比例分别为51．93％,48．07％。乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎等并非透析患者主要病因。乙型肝炎e抗原（HBeAg）、乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）、丙型肝炎病毒核糖核酸（HCV-RNA）、艾滋病病毒（HIV）、抗丙型肝炎病毒抗体（HCV）阳性率分别为4．29％、6．34％、1．41％、0．06％和4．24％。抗HCV阳性率显著高于HCV-RNA阳性率。结论由于对易感因素的强有力控制,北京市血液透析患者乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎发病率较低,但随着艾滋病的发病率逐年增高,血液透析患者HIV预防工作应引起高度重视。     

纳米银消毒凝胶防治血液透析患者导管相关性感染的前瞻性研究

目的观察纳米银消毒凝胶作为血液透析深静脉置管外用抗菌剂的疗效及安全性。方法将我院使用深静脉置管的62例维持性血液透析患者随机分为3组，对照组20例，深静脉置管处不使用药物；莫匹罗星组21例，深静脉置管处使用莫匹罗星软膏；纳米银消毒凝胶组（纳米银组）21例，深静脉置管处使用纳米银消毒凝胶。比较3组深静脉置管穿刺部位及导管内细菌培养阳性率，并观察纳米银组治疗开始时及观察终点肝功能的变化。结果（1）本组62例，16例穿刺部位或导管内细菌感染，感染率为25．8％，其中置管6周后感染12例（占75％）；（2）3组深静脉置管穿刺部位细菌培养阳性率分别为40．O％、14．3％和9．5％，莫匹罗星组与纳米银组较对照组明显降低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），莫匹罗星组与纳米银组间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）；（3）导管内细菌培养阳性率分别为10．0％、4．8％和4．8N，3组间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）；（4）纳米银组开始时及观察终点肝功能无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论纳米银消毒凝胶可有效降低透析用深静脉置管相关性感染发生率，是透析用深静脉置管外用抗菌剂的良好选择。     

N-末端脑钠肽前体对预测血液透析患者透析中低血压发生的意义

目的探讨血浆N-末端脑钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）在血液透析患者透析中低血压（IDH）发生的预测价值。方法将行血液透析的患者144例,根据透析过程中是否发生血压下降,分为IDH组和非IDH组。测定透析前后的血压、NT-proBNP,并记录心胸比、超滤量、超滤量占体质量百分比、低血容量发生次数,并分析NT-proBNP与IDH的相关性。结果透析期间,IDH的发生率为28．5％。与非IDH组比较,IDH组的年龄、NT-proBNP显著降低,超滤量、超滤量占体质量百分比、心胸比、低血容量发生次数明显升高（P〈0．05）。透析后,非IDH组SBP、DBP与透析前比较,无统计学差异（P〉0．05）,而IDH组则较透析前显著下降（P〈0．05）。采用多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,在控制年龄、超滤量、超滤量占体质量百分比、心胸比、低血容量发生次数后,NT-proBNP对透析中发生IDH仍有预测价值,OR=0．412（95％CI 0．212-0．801）。结论NT-proBNP与血液透析患者容量负荷密切相关,NT-proBNP水平检测有助于评估患者透析中血容量的变化,预测IDH的发生。     

左卡尼汀联合生脉注射液改善血液透析相关性低血压临床观察

目的观察左卡尼汀联合生脉注射液改善血液透析相关性低血压的疗效。方法选择血液透析相关性低血压患者30例，透析开始后1～2h给予生脉注射液40m1加入0．9％氯化钠溶液100ml静脉滴注，且透析结束后30min内给予左卡尼汀1．0g静脉推注，持续使用3个月，观察所有患者用药后3个月内透析前、透析中、透析后的血压、干体质量、超滤量及医务人员的干预情况。结果左卡尼汀联合生脉注射液治疗后患者在透析中及透析后的平均收缩压均比治疗前明显上升（P〈0．01），而治疗后，透析中的低血压、症状性低血压发生例次与治疗前比较有统计学差异（P〈O．05）。30例患者中，显效18例（占60．0％），有效8例（占26．7％），无效4例（占13．3％）。结论左卡尼汀联合生脉注射液改善血液透析相关性低血压有效且安全。     

孕妇产前四项传染病指标检测结果的分析

目的：了解孕妇产前乙型肝炎病毒、丙型肝炎病毒、梅毒螺旋体和人类免疫缺陷病毒感染的4项检测结果的临床意义。方法对在本院待产的2352例孕妇进行乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原（HBsAg）、丙型肝炎病毒抗体（抗-HCV）、人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体（抗-HIV）、梅毒（抗-TP）检测结果进行分析,HBsAg阳性者采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测HBV表面标志物,抗-HIV阳性者标本送往省疾病预防控制中心艾滋病确认实验室进行免疫印迹（Western blot）确认试验。结果2352例孕妇中,HBsAg阳性率6.54%、抗-HCV阳性率0.97%、抗-HIV阳性率0.12%和抗-TP阳性率0.21%,HBV分布模式和交叉感染情况各异。结论为阻断和降低上述感染性疾病的母婴传播、避免医疗纠纷、预防医院感染等,孕妇产前感染4项检测具有重要意义。     

非糖尿病血液透析患者的糖化血红蛋白的水平变化

目的观察血液透析患者的糖化血红蛋白（HbAlc）,并分析其相关的影响因素。方法选择非糖尿病血液透析患者54例（透析组）,检测HbAlc、血红蛋白（Hb）、透析时间（Ht）、红细胞生成素（EPO）剂量等;另设对照组为同期进行糖耐量试验（OGTT）证实为非糖尿病的一般查体人群121例。比较2组HbAlc,并应用多元线性回归分析透析组中Hb、每周Ht及EPO剂量对HbAlc的影响。结果透析组与对照组HbAlc分别是（5．3％±0．6％）和（5．8％±0．5％）,说明相对于非糖尿病的一般人群,非糖尿病血液透析患者的HbAlc水平显著低下。Hb、Ht、EPO对HbAlc均无明显的影响（P〉0．05）。结论非糖尿病血液透析患者HbAlc水平较正常人显著降低。     

高浓度枸橼酸钠抗凝法对围手术期血液透析患者的疗效和安全性

目的观察高浓度枸橼酸钠溶液抗凝法在围手术期血液透析患者中的临床应用价值及安全性。方法选择围手术期血液透析患者90例,随机分成2组：枸橼酸钠组（45例,169例次）采用30％的枸橼酸钠溶液抗凝,无抗凝剂组（45例,157例次）采用无抗凝剂法透析,观察透析器及管路凝血情况、检测透析前后部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）、观察出血情况、测定尿素清除率（Kt／V）。结果枸橼酸钠组中,I级凝血12例次（占7．1％）;未发生Ⅱ级或Ⅲ级凝血。无抗凝剂组中,I级凝血18例次（占11．5％）,Ⅱ级凝血15例次（占9．6％）,Ⅲ级凝血15例次（占9．6％）。无抗凝剂组体外循环管路凝血率高于枸橼酸钠组（P〈0．05）。无抗凝剂组透析器前APTT低于枸橼酸钠组（P〈O．05）。枸橼酸钠组Kt／V为（1．35±0．15）,高于无抗凝剂组的（0．96±0．18）（P〈0．05）。透析后,2组血肌酐、尿素氮均较透析前降低（P〈O．05）。透析后枸橼酸钠组较无抗凝剂组血HCO3^-明显升高（P〈0．05）但仍在正常值内。枸橼酸钠组透析后血钙较透析前降低（P〉0．05）。结论作为围手术期血液透析患者抗凝方式,局部枸橼酸钠溶液抗凝较之无抗凝剂法抗凝效果肯定,安全性好。     

Hepatitis G virus exposure in dialysis patients

Background Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a blood-borne virus. The predominant route of its transmission is parenteral. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of HGV exposure in haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in Iran. Methods This study was performed in a major dialysis centre in Tehran, Iran. The study cohort consisted of 77 patients on HD and 13 patients on CAPD. The presence of anti-HGV envelope protein E2 (anti-E2) in the blood serum, as determined by means of an ELISA assay, indicated HGV exposure. All patients were also screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). In patients who tested positive for anti-E2, HGV RNA was detected by RT-PCR using primers derived from the NS5A region of the viral genome. Results In total, 3.89% of the HD patients and none of the CAPD patients tested positive for anti-E2. None of the patients tested positive for HGV RNA. The mean age of the anti-E2-positive patients was 53.3 ± 26.5 years, with 66.66% having previously received blood transfusion. The mean duration of dialysis of the anti-E2-positive patients was 68 ± 64 months. Co-infection with HCV or HBV was not observed in the anti-E2 positive patients. Conclusion The rate of exposure to HGV was low among the dialysis patients in our study. The appearance of anti-E2 was accompanied by clearance of serum HGV-RNA. No relationship was noted between HGV exposure and age, sex, history of blood transfusion, time on dialysis and HCV or HBV markers.     

Hepatitis C in renal transplant recipients

Sera from 130 renal transplant recipients were tested for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Anti-HCV was detected in 6.2% of patients: 15.4% of patients who had maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and 2.2% of those who had continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) before transplantation (P less than 0.05). The similarity in prevalence of anti-HCV with patients currently on dialysis and the absence of transfusion during posttransplant follow-up suggest that most patients acquired HCV infection through transfusion during dialysis. The proportion of anti-HCV-positive patients who had one or more episodes of elevation in serum transaminase level was similar to that of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients, 75% vs. 72.2%. However, anti-HCV was only detected in 25% of HBsAg-negative patients who had recurrent elevations in serum transaminase level. It is not clear whether the low prevalence of anti-HCV in these patients is related to the presence of other non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (es) or a decrease in titer of anti-HCV secondary to immunosuppression posttransplantation.     

维持性血透患者乙、丙型肝炎病毒和人免疫缺陷病毒感染随访研究

目的:调查维持性血透患者在长程血透治疗过程中乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)和人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染情况,通过总结进一步降低血透患者上述病毒感染率。方法:收集2004年12月～2009年12月底在我院行规则维持性血液透析半年以上者共381例,每半年检查其血清HBV标志物(HBV-M)、HCV抗体(抗HCV)和抗HIV等情况;2008年1月起严格把抗HCV阳性的血液透析患者与HBsAg阳性患者单独分区和分血透机进行血液透析。比较各患者HBV-M、抗HCV和抗HIV变化情况,同时对比分区分机前后HBV和HCV感染情况。结果:(1)HBV-M检查及HBsAg抗原阳转率:2004年底～2009年底,HBsAg阳性患者分别为3,4,4,7,13,16例,增加的阳性患者均为新进入血透患者,维持性血透患者HBsAg阳转率均为0;(2)抗HCV检查及阳转率:2004年底～2009年底,抗HCV阳性患者总数分别为52例(43.3%),50例(32.3%),40例(25.8%),46例(29.9%),37例(18.8%),27例(11.3%);2005年,2006年和2007年阳转数分别为5例,2例,6例;2008年和2009年没有抗HCV阳转患者;分区分机血透后的两年和前面3年比较,抗HCV阳转率差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。(3)抗HIV检查及阳转率:所有381例患者在随访期内没有发生抗HIV阳性。结论:在广泛应用促红素减少输血后明显降低了血透患者HBV和HCV感染率,进一步对HBV和HCV感染者采取分区分机的原则和隔离血透的治疗措施,降低了血透患者感染HBV和HCV的风险。     

Infection of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis therapy and staff members]

The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in 564 patients and 145 staff members of nine hemodialysis (HD) units in Nagano Prefecture using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the C 100 HCV antigen (the first generation anti-HCV assay). And also serum HBV markers were tested in these subjects. One hundred patients (18%) were anti-C100 HCV positive, indicating that this figure represents a much higher prevalence than that (0.9%) among general population in the same geographical area. Out of 141 patients without history of blood transfusion, 17 (12%) were positive for anti-C 100 HCV, suggesting that blood-transfusions-unrelated acquisition of HCV infection can occur. Anti-HCV prevalence correlated with both the blood units transfused and the duration of HD treatment. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of anti-C 100 HCV in individual dialysis units ranging from 0% to 53%. In the dialysis unit with prevalence of 53%, approximately half of the anti-HCV positive patients were found to have chronic liver disease. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers among HD patients, on the other hand, was 36% (202/564). Fifty one (51%) of 100 anti-C 100 HCV positive patients and 151 (33%) of 464 anti-C 100 HCV negative patients were positive for HBV markers, with significant difference in HBV infection rate between the 2 groups. The prevalence of chronic liver disease, defined as abnormal serum transaminase levels for more than 6 months was significantly higher in anti-HCV positive patients than in anti-HCV negative ones (39% vs 10%, p less than 0.05), suggesting that HCV infection may contribute to chronic liver disease in HD patients. Among 145 staff members, only 3 (2%) were positive for anti-HCV, whereas 25 (17%) were positive for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), indicating prior HBV infection. With applying the second generation anti-HCV assay, which can detect antibodies to both capsid and nonstructural products of HCV gene, anti-HCV prevalence increased by two times in HD patients, but didn't change in HD staff members.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Hepatitis B virus infection and related factors in hemodialysis patients in China – systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: To provide a comprehensive and reliable tabulation of available data on the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients in China and help to inform prevention programs and guide future research. Methods: A systematic review was constructed based on the computerized literature database. Confidence intervals (95% CI) of infection rates were calculated using the approximate normal distribution model. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were calculated by fixed or random effects models. Hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (HBsAg (+)) was set as the sign of HBV infection. Results: Fifty studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of HBV infection among HD patients in China was 11.9%. Blood transfusion was correlated with an increase in HBV infection (p = 0.05). HD patients with a long-term history were more likely to be infected than those with a short-term history. The levels of alanine aminotransferase were higher in the HBsAg (+) patients (p < 0.001). Large doses of HBV vaccine (80 μg/dose) increased the seroconversion rate. The response rate of intradermal injection of HBV vaccine was higher than that of intramuscular injection. Conclusion: Hepatitis B is still one of the main complications in HD patients in China, and the frequency of blood transfusion and duration of HD were the risk factors. Large doses and intradermal injection of HBV vaccine were recommended to prevent HBV infection in HD patients. The findings of this meta-analysis have implications for optimal prevention and treatment of Hepatitis B in HD patients.     

Occult HBV Infection in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis Patients

Aim. Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver and/or blood in the absence of detectable serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag). There is a high prevalence of occult HBV infection in dialysis patients. This study investigated the prevalence of occult HBV infection in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients and compared the prevalence of occult HBV infection in dialysis patients either with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.?Methods.?In this cross-sectional study, 71 CAPD patients and 71 HD patients were evaluated. HBV DNA testing was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We recorded general characteristics of the patients, duration of dialysis, HBs Ag, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV), HCV RNA, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase levels (AST).?Results.?Twelve (16.9%) of the 71 HD patients and seven (9.8%) of the 71 CAPD patients were HBV DNA-positive. A statistically significant difference was not observed in the groups. Anti-HCV was negative and AST and ALT levels were normal in all of the HBV-DNA positive patients. Viral loads were low in both groups. Conclusion. This is the first study that analyzes occult HBV prevalence in CAPD patients. We conclude that the prevalence of the occult HBV may be common in CAPD patients as in HD patients, and HCV positivity is not a contributing factor to occult HBV infection in dialysis patients.     

Environmental Transmission of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viruses Within the Hemodialysis Unit

Abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transmitted in the dialysis setting through blood transfusions and environmental surfaces. Transfusion related hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very well known, but only recently the environmental transmission of this virus was postulated. In order to study the prevalence, mechanisms of transmission, and the ALT patterns of HBV and HCV infections in hemodialysis and CAPD patients before the implementation of HBV vaccination and HCV screening in the blood bank, we conducted a study from January 1987 to January 1990. Sera from 185 hemodialysis and 124 CAPD patients were stored in this period and later analyzed for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV (second generation ELISA). The prevalence of any HBV marker was 55.7% (103/185) for hemodialysis patients and 31.5% (39/124) for CAPD patients (hemodialysis vs. CAPD, p < 0.001). The prevalence of positive anti-HCV was 35.1% (65/185) for hemodialysis and 33.9% (42/124) for CAPD patients (not significant). There was a significant association between HBV markers positivity and anti-HCV positivity. The multivariate analysis of risk factors revealed an association of the positivity of each virus with the duration of renal replacement therapy (RRT), number of previous blood transfusions, and past history of hemodialysis treatment. Thus, besides the transfusion-related transmission, hemodialysis environmental transmission may also occur for both viruses. The findings of a high prevalence of both viruses and evidence for environmental transmission in the dialysis setting are of major importance for the planning of future preventive measures.     

Impact of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections on Kidney Transplantation: A Single Center Experience

ObjectiveThe impacts of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections on patient and renal graft survivals are controversial. This study sought to evaluate the effects of pretransplantation HCV and HBV infections on renal transplant patients and their grafts at our center.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively examined 1224 renal transplantations performed between 1992 and 2006, including 28 HBsAg positive; 64, anti-HCV; 9, anti-HCV plus HBsAg positive; and 1123, negative for anti-HCV and HBsAg. The mean posttransplantation follow-up was 5.6 ± 4.1 years.ResultsThe prevalences of HBV infection were 6.2% in 1994 and 2.3% in 2006 and those of HCV infection were 6.8% in 1998 and 5.2% in 2006. The rejection rate was higher among HBV+ (46.4%) and HCV+ (40.6%) groups than the negative groups (31.5%), but it was not significant. There were no significant differences in patient and graft survivals among the groups. The major cause of patient death was liver failure among patients with concomitant HBV+ and HCV+ infections and cardiovascular disease among HCV+ and negative patients.ConclusionsThere has been a decrease in the prevalence of recipients with hepatitis virus infections over the last 15 years. Patient and graft survivals were not affected by HCV or HBV infection.     

High prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis C in haemodialysis patients in Saudi Arabia: a need for new dialysis strategies

Non-A, non-B is a major form of hepatitis in haemodialysis (HD)patients. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recently identifiedas the leading cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis in HD. A variableprevalence of hepatitis in HD has appeared in the literature,ranging between 1% and 29% in the Western world, and between30% and 54% in Saudi Arabia, but all these reports used first-generationELISA. Using second-generation enzyme immunoassay, we conducteda multi-centre study involving 22 HD centres all over SaudiArabia in order to establish the prevalence and risk factorsfor HCV in HD patients in Saudi Arabia. A total of 1147 patientswere studied, with a mean age of 43.4±15.3 years. Fivehundred and eighty were males and 567 were females. The overallprevalence rate of positive anti-HCV was 68%, with a range fromas low as 14.5%, to 94.7%. To our knowledge, this is the highestvalue reported among dialysis patients world-wide. A positivecorrelation was found between anti-HCV positivity and male sex(P=0.005), longer duration on dialysis (P=0.002) and blood transfusion(P=0.003). However, interestingly 62.6% of the patients whohad not had blood transfusion had anti-HCV antibodies. HCV antibodieswere also found more frequently in Egyptians, Pakistanis andYemenis than in Saudis. A comparison between those centres withlow prevalence of positive HCV and those with high prevalenceregarding risk factors was carried out, and it was found thatthe major difference between them was the adherence of the staffto universal infection precautions. In conclusion, HCV is amajor health problem in HD patients in Saudi Arabia. Identifiablerisk factors are longer duration in dialysis, blood transfusion,male sex, nationality and most importantly the lack of adherenceto universal infection precautions.     

不明原因肝病患者肝组织HBV及HCV抗原的检测及临床和病理特点

目的了解不明原因肝病患者中HBV及HCV隐匿性感染所占的比例及临床、病理特点。方法对31例不明原因肝病患者,采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测血清乙型肝炎病毒标志物（HBV-M）（HBsAg、抗-HBs、HBeAg、抗-HBe和抗-HBc）及丙型肝炎病毒抗体;血清HBV DNA采用荧光定量PCR法检测,HCV RNA采用RT-PCR法检测;应用免疫组织化学二步法检测肝组织中的HBsAg、HBcAg、HCV抗原,并进行常规病理检查。结果肝组织HBV抗原阳性者11例（35.5%）;HBV、HCV抗原均阳性者10例（32.3%）,全阴性者10例（32.3%）。存在HBV隐匿性感染的21例患者中,慢性肝炎患者7例,肝硬化患者12例,肝细胞性肝癌患者2例。结论HBV、HCV感染为不明原因肝病的主要原因,尤其是HBV感染。HBV隐匿性感染与慢性肝炎、肝硬化、肝癌关系密切,应引起重视。