TY - JOUR ID - TI - Hepatitis C Virus Infection Assessment Among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in AL-Kadhmiya Teaching Hospital AU - Jawad K. mnuti AU - Fadhil A. AL- Abbudi PY - 2010 VL - 9 IS - 4 SP - 460 EP - 464 JO - Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal المجلة العراقية للاختصاصات الطبية SN - 83601608 98932708 AB - ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as an emerging problem in dialysis patients, and viralhepatitis remains a major hazard for both patients and medical staff of hemodialysis (HD) units.The reported yearly incidence of anti-HCV antibody worldwide between HD patients ranges from10.5% to 24%, while the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among dialysis patients varies indifferent countries (5-85%) worldwide, and may exceed 95% in the Middle EastOBJECTIVE:To asses the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) among the hemodialysis unit in ALKadhmiyaTeaching Hospital and to identify the risk factors of infection in relation to age, sex, bloodtransfusions and duration of dialysisPATIENTS AND METHODS:Across-sectional study was conducted in AL-Nahrain College of Medicine in AL-KadhmiyaTeaching Hospital in dialysis unit during the period from April 2008 to December 2010. 100patients(58 male and 42 female their ages ranged from (15—75). are known cases of end stage renalfailure on regular haemodialysis. All patients underwent a history and physical examination atbaseline and investigations include blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, serum calcium, phosphorus, liverfunction test and screen for hepatitis C virus antibodies were tested by using Murex anti-HCVELISA , Positive cases were confirmed by polymerase chain reactionRESULTS:The prevalence of HCV infection in patients in the dialysis unit was 41%. This study showed thatthere was an association between the history of blood transfusions, duration of the dialysis andkidney transplantation and the prevalence of HCV infection,( P.value <0.001.)Although the levels of AST and ALT were higher in the positive HCV marker group, there was nostatistically significant difference between them.CONCLUSION:HCV infection is high in hemodialysis unit in alkadhmiya teaching hospital, HCV-related liverdisease in patients on long-term dialysis often appears clinically mild, with only modest elevations inAST and ALT levels but most of them asymptomatic. Observation of appropriate preventivemeasures in the hemodialysis center is highly recommended.

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