ResearcherID - CLICK HERE Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF-2020) - CLICK HERE

HCV INCIDENCE IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN DHQ HOSPITAL VEHARI

Muneeb Khaliq, Ahsan Irshad, Samreen Ijaz

Objective: To find out the rate and cause of HCV infection in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Material and Methods: From August 2018 to August 2019 we screened 500 patients later sent to the Dialysis Center of the DHQ Hospital in Vehari. We selected 300 CKD patients on conservative management. Renal disease etiology and stage were analyzed and we tested for HCV antibodies using immunoassay and immunoblotting viral detection by real-time PCR. Results: The incidence of HCV infection was 13 %. These patients showed a history of blood transfusions and major surgeries. All subjects were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative. Hepatic function tests were unremarkable. Conclusion: We did not find any differences between these HCV-RNA-positive patients and those who were IgG HCV-negative with regard to Primitive cause of nephropathy, stage of CKD, and biochemical parameters. Keywords: Dialysis, CKD, Hepatitis

FULL TEXT