[Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in General Hospital Gracanica].

PURPOSE It is estimated that 10-20 % patients on hemodialysis therapy have hepatitis C virus infection with big geographic and individual variability in HCV prevalence between different hemodialysis centers. OBJECTIVES To determine prevalence of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients in Hemodialysis Unit of General Hospital Gracanica and to make epidemiological, clinical, biochemical and virusological analysis in anti-HCV positive patients. WORK METHODS: 58 patients that were hemodialyse during 2000 year in Hemodialysis Unit Gracanica were included in this study. All patients were tested on anti-HCV antibody and further planed analyses were done. WORK RESULTS Prevalence HCV infection in Dialysis Unit Gracanica was 46.5 %. The most number of HCV positive patients were in age of 40-49 years 40.7 % or (11/27 patients). The more often HCV positive patients were male 59.3 % or (16/27 patients). In group of anti-HCV positive patients, in 85 % (23/27) have detected HCV RNA. It means that 39.60 % patients in Hemodialysis Unit Gracanica have chronic HCV infection, but 6.80 % patients had past infection. Receiving of blood transfusion, as risk factor, for HCV infection were more often found in group anti HCV + patients (81.5 %) than in group anti-HCV negative patients (51.6 % patients). The length of dialysis therapy were longer in group anti HCV + patients and it was 6.8 years than in group of anti-HCV negative patients that was 1.6 years. HCV infection was not associated with significant biochemical parameters of liver lesion or with manifested clinical symptoms in the time of this study. CONCLUSION The observed Unit for Hemodialysis can be concerned as unit with high prevalence of HCV infection. It is courage fact that there was no new registered HCV seroconversion since beginning of work this unit until time of this study. Implementation of general and specific measures for prevention of HCV infection and introduction of regular control can decrease risks for HCV infection inside hemodialysis unit.