Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Outcome of Hemodialysis and Kidney Transplant Patients

Aim. A comparison of the outcome of hepatitis virus-positive and -negative kidney transplant and hemodialysis patients was the aim of this investigation. Materials and Methods. The study involved 384 kidney transplant patients (67 HBsAg positive, 39 anti-HCV positive, 278 hepatitis negative), transplanted between 1987 and 2001, and 403 hemodialysis patients (128 HBsAg positive, 83 anti-HCV positive, 192 hepatitis negative) who had started hemodialysis and were referred to the kidney transplant waiting list during the same period. Results. Hemodialysis patients were older than transplant patients. Comparison of the groups’ survival rates, adjusted for patient age, showed that all kidney transplant patients survived longer than hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). HBV infection had a negative impact on patient survival, especially in hemodialysis patients. HCV infection did not have a significant influence on patient survival. Cardiovascular disease was the main cause of death of all hemodialysis- and hepatitis-negative transplant patients. Liver failure was one of the leading causes of death in HBV-positive transplant patients. Mortality risk was higher for older patients, HBV-positive and -negative hemodialysis patients. Conclusions. Kidney transplantation offers longer survival for hepatitis-positive and -negative hemodialysis patients. HBV but not HCV infection had a negative impact on ESRD patient survival.     

Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Turkish Hemodialysis Patients

Background and Objective. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Although their exact prevalence is not known, HBV and HCV viral infections and occult viral hepatitis are frequent in these patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult HBV and HCV infections in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods. One hundred and eighty-eight end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis (100 male, mean age 49±29 [16–80] years, and mean duration of hemodialysis 98±66 [12–228] months) were enrolled in this study. Serological markers for HBV and HCV were determined with immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) by using commercial diagnostic kits (Access and BioRad, Beckman-Coulter). HCV-RNA (Cobas Amplicor HCV kit) and HBV-DNA (Artus GmbH HBV kit) were determined quantitatively by polymerase chain reaction. Results. Among the patients screened, 25 (13.3%) had HBV infection alone and 38 (20.2%) had HCV infection alone, while seven (3.7%) had dual infection of both viruses. Serological markers for occult hepatitis B and occult hepatitis C were positive in five (2.7%) and nine (4.8%) of the patients, respectively. Isolated anti-HBc was positive in 12 (6.4%) of all patients, three (7.9%) of the patients with anti-HCV and two (40%) of the patients with occult hepatitis B. Isolated anti-HBc positivity was more frequent in patients with occult hepatitis B than in those without (40% [2/5] vs. 5.5% [10/183], p=0.002). None of the patients with HCV had occult hepatitis B. Conclusions. Both occult and non-occult forms of HCV infection are more prevalent than HBV infection in hemodialysis patients. Especially the patients with isolated anti-HBc positivity should be tested for probable occult hepatitis B infection.     

血液透析患者丙型肝炎病毒医院感染的危险因素及预防

目的:分析维持性血液透析病人院内感染丙型肝炎病毒的危险因素,探讨其预防措施。方法:选择我院肾内科2005年～2009年行规律性血液透析的患者212例,观察丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染情况并分析其与透析时间、输血、透析器复用的关系,设立非透析患者对照组。结果:透析组HCV感染率(22.17%)明显高于对照组(7.04%),透析龄越长、输血次数越多和复用透析器时,HCV感染的风险越高。规范透析操作及推广使用一次性耗材后,新发HCV感染显著下降。结论:血液透析患者是HCV感染的高危人群,透析时间、输血及透析器复用是血液透析患者感染HCV的高危因素,专机专用,减少输血次数,加强透析治疗环节交叉感染的质量控制,可减少HCV感染。     

Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Status and Survival After Renal Transplantation: Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among patients after renal transplantation (RT) remains incompletely defined. We conducted a systematic review of the published medical literature on the impact of hepatitis C antibody status on survival of patients who received RT. We used the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird to generate a summary estimate of the relative risk (RR) for mortality and graft loss with HCV seropositivity across the published studies. We identified eight clinical trials (6365 unique patients); six (75%) were cohort studies and two (2/8 = 25%) controlled trials, respectively. Pooling of study results demonstrated that presence of anti-HCV antibody was an independent and significant risk factor for death and graft failure after RT; the summary estimate for RR was 1.79 (95% CI, 1.57-2.03; homogeneity test, p = 0.0427) and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.35-1.80; homogeneity test, p = 0.0192), respectively. As a cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis were significantly more frequent among anti-HCV positive than anti-HCV negative RT patients. This meta-analysis demonstrates that RT recipients with anti-HCV antibody have an increased risk of mortality and graft failure compared with HCV antibody negative patients.     

Effect of Hepatitis C Virus on Hemoglobin and Hematocrit Levels in Saudi Hemodialysis Patients

Background. Hepatitis C virus infection is common among patients undergoing hemodialysis, and HD patients are at high risk for infection with such virus. Recently, some studies and case reports indicated attenuated anemia in HD patients with HCV infection, and they previously considered this to be related to increased erythropoietin production after hepatic stimulation by chronic infection with hepatitis virus. Aim. The aim of our study is to investigate whether HCV-positive HD patients have higher hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) values compared to HCV-negative patients. Methods. We retrospectively studied 83 chronic HD patients from Prince Salman Center for Kidney Disease, and monthly samples were collected between July 2007 and July 2008. The HCV status was determined by anti-HCV antibodies and confirmed with RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Those with a history of blood transfusion or massive blood loss during the last six months were excluded from the study. Results. Thirty-three percent of our patients tested positive for anti-HCV antibody (51.8% were male). The mean age for HCV-positive group was 54.92 ± 15.61 years, while it was 51.01 ± 14.81 years for the HCV-negative group (p = 0.27). Mean Hb in the HCV-positive group was 11.18 ± 1.41gm/dL compared to 10.87 ± 1.29 gm/dL for the HCV-negative group (p = 0.05). Mean HTC values for the HCV-positive group was 34.4 ± 3.9, compared to 32.41 ± 3.41 for the HCV-negative group 12 months after starting hemodialysis. Eighty-one patients (27 HCV-positive and 54 HCV-negative) received erythropoietin (EPO) therapy. Seventy-two patients (25 HCV-positive and 47 HCV-negative) received IV iron (p = 0.28). Mean erythropoietin dose was (114.83 ± 84.92 IU/kg/week) for HCV-positive compared to (122.2 ± 91.46 IU/kg/week) for HCV-negative group (p = 0.74). Liver function tests were normal except for higher bilirubin level in the HCV-positive group, 7.74 ± 4.03 Umol/L compared to 5.47 ± 3.71 Umol/L in the HCV-negative group (p = 0.01). Conclusion. Our study showed that ESRD patients on HD with HCV infection have higher Hb and HCT levels compared with HCV-negative patients.     

Hemodialysis Reduces the Viral Load in Uremic Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Background and aims. The effect of hemodialysis (HD) to change the viral load of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in uremic patients with chronic HBV infection has never been studied. In this study, we investigated the HBV viral loads and their changes between the HD procedure in the uremic patients. Patients and methods. A total of 38 chronic HBV-infected uremic patients were enrolled, but eight cases were excluded due to HCV co-infection and under anti-viral therapy. To evaluate the HBV DNA levels and their changes through the course of HD, we quantified serial serum samples from each patient immediately before HD, at the end of HD, and 48 hours later—immediately before the next HD. Results. Most of our HBV-infected uremic patients had a relatively lower HBV viral load; 80% cases with HBV DNA %4 Log₁₀copies/mL, in comparison with the Taiwan epidemiologic study for community base HBV carriers. There was no significant difference of HBV DNA level between HBeAg-positive and -negative patients, but a significant higher DNA level in the high ALT group (p = 0.029) and liver cirrhosis patients (p = 0.002). The mean HBV DNA levels, before and after HD, respectively, in our 30 patients were 3.823 ± 1.130 Log₁₀copies/mL and 3.686 ± 1.114 Log₁₀copies/mL. It was a significant decrease on HBV DNA level in chronic HBV-infected patients through HD procedure (p = 0.004). The mean HBV DNA level of two days after HD was 3.702 ± 1.094 Log₁₀copies/mL, which was not significantly different from the HBV DNA level before (p = 0.076) or after (p = 0.267) HD; however, the mean reduction of HBV DNA by a single HD was 0.11 ± 0.38 Log₁₀copies/mL. Patients with low viral load also had a significant high platelet count (p = 0.03), high serum albumin (p = 0.016), and low AST level (p = 0.002). Conclusions. Most uremic patients with chronic HBV infection under regular HD in Taiwan had a relatively lower viral load, of which the major mechanism could be due to the elimination of serum HBV viral load by the HD procedure.     

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Management of Hemodialysis Catheter-Related Bacteremia

Hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia is a common clinical problem with several management options. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine cure proportions with systemic antibiotics, antibiotic lock solution, and guidewire exchange. We searched databases and registries; conference proceedings from relevant medical societies; and article reference lists. Data regarding management approach, cure, follow-up, recurrence, complications, and microbiology were abstracted and pooled from 28 selected publications. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated from a mixed effects logistic regression model. In total, 1596 patients with tunneled hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia were divided into groups on the basis of treatment with systemic antibiotics (n=697), antibiotic lock solution (n=546), or guidewire exchange (n=353). Antibiotic lock solution and guidewire exchange had similar cure proportions that were superior to systemic antibiotics alone (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.25 to 3.45; P<0.01 for antibiotic lock solution; OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.82 to 4.55; P<0.001 for guidewire exchange versus systemic antibiotics). Cure proportions were highest for coagulase-negative staphylococci followed by gram-negative rods and Staphylococcus aureus. Among S. aureus infections, guidewire exchange led to a higher cure proportion than systemic antibiotics or antibiotic lock solution (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.17 to 9.46; P=0.02; OR, 4.72; 95% CI, 1.79 to 12.46; P=0.002, respectively). Thus, results of this study suggest that tunneled hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia should be treated with either guidewire exchange or antibiotic lock solution. Future studies should address prospectively whether one strategy is better than the other overall and for specific pathogens.     

维持性血液透析患者感染丙型病毒性肝炎150个月随访研究

目的:评价血液透析患者感染丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的阳转率和危险因素。方法:随访1998年6月～2010年6月在本院透析的血透患者,共纳入2 465例血透患者,采用ELISA法每隔6月在同一实验室检测抗-HCV。结果:1998年6月的抗HCV阳性率为54.7%,每隔半年的阳性率分别为54.7%,53.8%,52.6%,53.0%,51.2%,45.9%,45.5%,48.2%,35.6%,33.7%,33.7%,31.7%,30.4%,28.4%,27.2%,24.5%,20.8%,19.4%,16.6%,14.4%,15.3%,15.2%,12.5%,11.9%和10.0%。在1～150个月随访期间,总计238例患者阳转,随访1～12月者阳转率为4.5%,13～24月者为6.9%,25～48月者为11.9%,49～60月者28.1%,61～72月者35.1%,73～84月者38.6%,85～96月者阳转率46.9%,97～108月者56.3%,109～126月者63.6%,随访至139～150月时,阳转率已高达75%。结论:提示透析环境对HCV传播有影响,可能一方面通过共用透析机,一方面是由于未隔离阳性患者;严格的消毒隔离措施对降低HCV感染和阳转有重要作用。     

Patellar Resurfacing in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty remains controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate this technique through an analysis of comparative studies in the current literature.

维持性血液透析患者丙型肝炎病毒感染与营养不良-炎症综合征的相关性

目的:采用营养不良-炎症评分(malnutrition inflammation score,MIS)系统,观察维持性血液透析(mainte-nance hemodialysis,MHD)患者丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染与营养不良-炎症综合征(malnutrition-inflammation complex syn-drome,MICS)的关系。方法:对12例HCV感染和112例对照组(无HCV/HBV感染)MHD患者进行MIS评分,了解其营养和炎症状况,包括:人体测量学指标、生化指标(包括血清白蛋白、转铁蛋白、铁蛋白、未饱和铁,总胆固醇、肾功能等)及血常规(红细胞、血红蛋白)、炎症指标(包括超敏C反应蛋白、白细胞介素-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α等)。统计患者进入观察期8个月前后MIS评分情况,分析HCV感染与炎症和营养状态的相关性。结果:HCV感染组较非HCV感染组患者的透析龄[(72.50±40.29)月vs(43.40±44.32)月,P<0.01]、肝硬化发生率(16.67%vs0.01%,P<0.05)、总MIS积分(6.73±2.57vs5.01±2.34,P<0.05)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)(21.5±17vs14.0±8.0,P<0.01)、谷草转氨酶(AST)(21.0±23.0vs13.0±7.0,P<0.01)和铁蛋白浓度(384.28±132.49vs173.34±89.47,P<0.001)均患者显著增加,而白细胞计数、白蛋白、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)等则显著低于非HCV感染组;HCV感染仅与透析时程呈正相关(OR:1.14,95%CI:1.04～1.25,P=0.005),而与白蛋白(OR:0.96,95%CI:0.95～0.9,P=0.011)、总胆固醇水平(OR:0.98,95%CI:0.98～0.99,P=0.016)呈负相关;观察结束时总MIS积分(6.95±3.33vs5.50±2.28,P<0.05),MIS6(0.66±0.73vs0.26±0.62,P<0.05)和MIS7(0.98±0.95vs0.53±0.71,P<0.05)评分也显著高于非感染组。结论:伴有HCV感染的MHD患者存在更为严重的MICS,并且随HCV感染时间的增加营养状况有恶化趋势。     

Comparison of Intramuscular and Intradermal Applications of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients

This study compared the application of intramuscular recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients with the application of accelerated intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, which can be applied with one-tenth of the standard dose. Sixty seronegative patients for hepatitis B were randomly separated into two groups. Twenty μg of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was intramuscularly applied at 0-, 1-, 2-, and 6-month intervals to the first group (32 cases). One more dose was applied at month 12 to those whose anti-HBs titers remained below 100 mIU/mL at month 7. The same vaccine was intradermally applied at 2μg dose six times with one-month intervals to the second group (28 cases). Vaccine applications were continued in those whose anti-HBs titers remained below 100 mIU/mL at month 7 until antibody titers reached above this value or until the dose number became 12. Measurements of antibody titers were repeated at month 13 in both groups. As a result, in the vaccination of hemodialysis patients against hepatitis B, the accelerated ID application of hepatitis B vaccine with a dose reduced to one-tenth is more cost-effective than the standard dose vaccination schedules. Especially for hemodialysis patients, the time has come for routine application of ID hepatitis B vaccine as an alternative vaccination method.     

维持性血液透析病人庚型、丙型和乙型肝炎病毒感染的研究

目的 :评价维持性血液透析 (HD)病人庚型、丙型和乙型肝炎病毒感染状况和危险因子。方法 :应用第二代ELISA方法对 10 5例本院HD病人进行HGV、HCV和HBV检则 ,并与透析时间、输血次数等关系进行对比分析。结果 :10 5例HD病人肝炎感染率分别为 :HGV 14.3%、HCV 5 1.4%、HBV 2 2 .9% ,均明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5～ <0 .0 1)。其中HCV感染率与透析时间、输血次数相关程度密切 (P <0 .0 0 1) ,且输血次数相对危险性 (OR =2 .735 1)大于透析年度 (OR =2 .0 315 )。结论 :透析环境是HD病人感染HGV、HCV和HBV的危险因子 ,其中HCV感染率随透析年度增加呈增高趋势 ,可能是通过共用透析机和重复透析器传播。输血仍是感染HCV另一重要危险因子 ,且比透析年度危险性更大     

Hepatitis C Virus Infection and de Novo Glomerular Lesions in Renal Allografts

In the present study we examine whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status influences glomerular pathologic findings in renal allografts and its effect on graft outcome. Renal allograft biopsies performed between January 1991 and June 1999 were considered. Exclusion criteria were insufficient sample, unknown HCV serological status at time of biopsy and final diagnosis of acute rejection. Light microscopy and immunofluorescence studies were performed on all biopsies. According to a predefined protocol, electron microscopy was carried out. Of 138 eligible renal allograft biopsies, 42 fulfilled at least one exclusion criterion. Of 96 biopsies selected for the study, 44 (45.8%) were from HCV-positive and 52 from HCV-negative recipients. Renal biopsy was performed 74 +/- 55 and 60 +/- 39 months after transplantation in HCV-positive and HCV-negative groups, respectively (p = 0.12). Of 44 HCV-positive biopsies, 20 (45.4%) showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (16 type I and 4 type III). Conversely, in HCV-negative biopsies there were only three cases of MPGN (2 type I and 1 type III). De novo membranous GN (MGN) was diagnosed in 8/44 (18.2%) HCV-positive and in 4/52 (7.7%) HCV-negative cases. The prevalence of chronic transplant glomerulopathy was similar in HCV-positive and HCV-negative groups (11.4% and 11.5%, respectively). The prognosis of de novo GN (either MPGN or MGN) was worse in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative recipients (relative risk 4.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-20.69; p = 0.03). By multivariate analysis, HCV-positive serology infection was the only independent predictor of graft loss (relative risk 2.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-5.17; p = 0.005). In diagnostic renal allograft biopsies the presence of de novo immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, especially type I MPGN, is strongly associated with HCV infection and results in accelerated loss of the graft.     

乙、丙型肝炎病毒感染的肾移植受者肝损害临床观察

目的：观察乙、丙型肝炎病毒感染的肾移植受者术后肝损害的临床特点。方法：回顾性分析并跟踪观察了266例同种异体肾移植术受者的临床资料。65（65/266）例术前乙、丙肝炎病毒感染者作为阳性组,其中单一HBVM阳性者38例,单一抗HCV阳性者12例,HBVM/抗HCV双阳性15例;同期无病毒感染者201（201/266）例为阴性组。术后均采用三联免疫抑制方案及护肝药物治疗,同时监测肝功能、HBVDNA、HCVRNA及CsA药物浓度。28例术后乙、丙型肝炎受者作肝组织常规病理学检查。结果：乙、丙型肝炎病毒感染阳性组术后肝损害发病率及病死率明显高于阴性组。单一HBV感染所致的肝功能损害程度重,肝组织炎性活动积分高,9例发生了纤维化瘀胆性肝炎。结论：乙、丙型肝炎病毒感染的肾移植受者术后易出现肝脏损害,术前应对肝脏功能进行严格评估,单一HBV感染受者应防止纤维化瘀胆性肝炎的发生。     

Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundHidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be a severe condition that impacts patients’ health and quality of life. One aspect that can be impaired is sexual health, with many patients suffering from sexual dysfunction (SD). There are numerous articles describing this association.ObjectiveWe sought to synthesize and analyze the recent available evidence on HS and SD.MethodsA systematic review was conducted. Three medical databases were used: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. All types of epidemiological articles were included, while reviews, guidelines, protocols, conference abstracts, and case report articles were excluded. This review covers the past eight years.ResultsTwelve studies were included for review, with the most common study design being cross-sectional. Most studies involved surveys and questionnaires, with some using control groups to compare results. SD affected roughly half of patients with HS, and was found more frequently in women. Comorbidities included psychological conditions, such as depression and low self-esteem, as well as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.ConclusionHS is significantly associated with sexual health issues, including SD in women and erectile dysfunction in men.     

Factors Related to Silent Myocardial Damage in Hemodialysis Patients

Background.?Both traditional and non-traditional risk factors play a role for the development of cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients. However, a specific relationship between these risk factors and silent myocardial damage is unknown.?Methods.?Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Silent myocardial damage was defined by elevated cardiac troponin I values above cutoff values.?Results.?In total, 113 hemodialysis patients were included. Cardiac troponin I concentrations were below cutoff value (<2.3 ng/mL) in 103 (91.2%) patients (Group 1), whereas 10 (8.8%) patients had elevated concentrations (Group 2). Group 1 patients had higher levels of hemoglobin (p = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.002) and lower C-reactive protein (p = 0.003) and tumor necrosis factor-α (p = 0.005) levels, as well as less incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.045), when compared to Group 2 patients. Diabetes mellitus (Beta = +0.160, p = 0.021), left ventricular hypertrophy (Beta = +0.247, p < 0.0001), uncontrolled blood pressure (Beta = +0.170, p = 0.016), normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (Beta = ?0.230, p = 0.001), hemoglobin (Beta = ?0.302, p < 0.0001), and tumor necrosis factor-α (Beta = +0.506, p < 0.0001) were found to be independently associated with cardiac troponin I levels in multiple linear regression analysis.?Conclusions.?Both traditional and non-traditional risk factors are related with silent myocardial damage, which is considered to an antecedent of major cardiovascular events. Hemodialysis patients, even when asymptomatic, must be closely followed up for the presence of these risk factors.