Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and transaminase concentration in chronic haemodialysis patients: a study with second-generation assays

We used first- and second-generation assays such as Ortho I,Ortho 2 and 4-RIBA to define prevalence and nsk factors foranti-HCV antibodies in haemodialysed patients. Forty-nine (24%)subjects were found to be anti-HCV positive. Anti-HCV positivity was related to duration of dialysis and past or currentelevations of GOT and GPT; the frequency of transfused patientswas greater in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative subjects; therewere 31 patients (pre valence of 20%) with anti-HCV antibodiesamong non-transfused patients. These findings show that, testedby second-generation assays, HCV infection is detected morethan twice as commonly in haemodia lysis patients and may beresponsible for a significant proportion of liver disease inthis clinical setting Acquisition of hepatitis C virus by dialysispatients is not only through blood transfusions but also secondaryto hepatitis C virus presence within the unit itself.