The present study included 80 cases with chronic renal failure treated by maintainance dialysis (50 cases under haemodialysis (HD) and .jcases under peritoneal dialysis PD) to detect the prevalence of hepatitis virus antibodies among them. Thirty healthy volunteers were also studied as a control group. The incidence of anti HCV positive cases was 76% in HD group. 16. 6% in PD group and 6.6% in the control group. No specific sex predilection was found among anti HCV positive cases in any studied group. There was a significant correlation between number of units of blood transfusion and HCV infection. The mean duration of dialysis was signylcandy longer in HD groups in Anti HCV positive cases as compared to anti HCV negative cases. By comparing each of anti HCV positive and anti HCV negative cases to either Bilharzial or HBV infection, no statistial significant differences were found. The patterns of liver nzymes abnormality in the anti HCV positive cases were either a progressively increasing (15.77% in HD, 40%. in PD and 50%. in the control group) or fluctuating (15.7%. inHD, 20%. in PD, 50%. in the control group). We might conclude that HCV infection represents a major health problem among patients with CRF maintained on dialysis particularly those under haemodialysis. Though blood transfusion represents the major route of HCV transmission, extended studies of other risk factors such as insect vectors, schistosomiasis. infected medical or paramedical staff is mandatory. |
