Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus among Hemodialysis Patients in Damascus, Syria

Background: Evaluation of the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was made possible by the development of a serological assay to detect antibodies to epitopes of HCV. Hemodialysis (HD) is considered to be one of the main risk factors of HCV transmission. Therefore, the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) was studied in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy. Patients and Methods: Anti-HCV were detected using a third-generation assay. The study group consisted of HD patients, transplant recipients and staff members from two dialysis units in Damascus, Syria. Results: The overall prevalence of anti-HCV among HD patients was 48.9%; 24,4% in one center (Al-Mouassat Hospital) and 88,6% in the other (Kidney Hospital). There was a significant correlation between prevalence of anti-HCV and duration of HD. The prevalence was 36.7% for patients on HD for < 3 years and 65% in patients on HD for > 3 years (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation beteen anti-HCV positivity and elevated liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and asparate aminotransferase (AST). However, there was no significant correlation between anti-HVC positivity and history of blood transfusion, exposure to hepatitis B virus, age and sex. The prevalence of anti-HCV among kidney transplant recipients was 48%, among staff members of the dialysis units it was 5.8%. Conclusion: Factors related to infrastructure and operational system might be responsible for the very high prevalence of anti-HVC found in one of the two units. There was no data available on anti-HCV status of transplant recipients prior to transplantation. However, the prevalence among those patients, which is very similar to that of HD patients, suggests that HD may be responsible for such high prevalence among this group. An intensive educational program for staff members and proper evaluation of the HD situation in the two units are needed. Received: November 27, 1999 · Revision accepted: March 2, 2001