Seroprevalence of Anti-HCV, HbsAg and HIV Antibodies in  Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in a Tertiary Care Centre

Authors

HBV, HCV, anti-HCV, HBsAg, HIV, CKD, Seroprevalence, Hemodialysis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Hemodialysis patients. Patients on Hemodialysis

may be infected through blood transfusion, contamination of dialysis machines and equipments as well as

interpersonal horizontal transmission in dialysis units. Studies on seroprevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV in

Hemodialysis patients are limited in India.

Objective: The present study was carried out to see the seroprevalence of anti-HCV, HBsAg and HIV

antibodies in patients on Hemodialysis.

Method: 100 patients undergoing Hemodialysis were included in the study. Patient’s history was taken

regarding the blood transfusion, high-risk behavior, duration on dialysis and others. With the informed

consent of the patients, blood was drawn; serum was separated and subjected to screening for the presence

of anti-HCV, HBsAg and HIV antibodies. Healthy individuals included as controls in the study were

simultaneously screened for anti-HCV, HBsAg and HIV antibodies.

Results: In our study, a total of 100 patients undergoing Hemodialysis were screened, out of which 11(11%)

were anti-HCV positive and none of them were positive for HBsAg and HIV antibodies. Maximum numbers

of patients undergoing Hemodialysis were in the age group of 41-50 years 36(36%). All the 100 patients

undergoing Hemodialysis were diagnosed to be having Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). It is been observed

that number of blood transfusions and number of Hemodialysis sessions in the given period of time were

more in anti-HCV positive patients when compared to anti-HCV negative patients.

Interpretation and conclusion: In the present study, HCV infection is more prevalent among Hemodialysis

patients. HCV infection prominently increases the burden of disease in the Hemodialysis population. The

longer the patient is on Hemodialysis, the more susceptible he/she is to HCV acquisition. Hemodialysis

patients should be routinely screened for HCV infection, preferably using serological methods.

Priyanka N1 , Girish N2 , Rajendran R3

1 Post Graduate, 2 Professor, 3 Professor and HOD, Department of Microbiology,

Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bangalore, India