Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Hemodialysis

Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Sep 2004 p.4321-4322 Vol.42 N.9

Patients at a Tertiary-Care Hospital in Mexico City, Mexico
Nahum Méndez-Sánchez,* Daniel Motola-Kuba, Norberto C. Chavez-Tapia, Jesús Bahena, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, and Misael Uribe Departments of Biomedical Research and Gastroenterology and Liver Unit and Hemodialysis Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico

We determined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemodialysis patients by antibody testing and HCV RNA determination by PCR. A total of 149 patients with kidney failure with replacement therapy were tested. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 6.7% (10 of 149 patients), and viremia was detectable in 8 of 149 (5%) patients. Three of 149 patients (2%) were anti-HCV negative with detectable HCV RNA.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Departments of Biomedical Research and Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Mexico City, Mexico. Phone: (525) 606-6222, ext. 4215. Fax: (525) 666-4031. E-mail: nmendez@medicasur.org.mx.