الفهرس 
Hepatitis C Virus OverviewOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Infection with HCV is the most common liver disease in HD patients, while liver disease is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with end stage renal disease treated by dialysis or transplan¬tation.
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is estimated to be 3% worldwide
The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity among dialysis patients varies in different countries (5%-85% worldwide), but may exceed 95% in some HD units.
Our study included all ESRD patients undergoing HD in Kafr El- Sheikh governorate sector (B) in the period from 1/1/2012 to 30/7/2012. There were 684 patients undergoing HD in Kafr El- Sheikh governorate sector (B) distributed in 6 HD units, all are governmental hospitals and there’s no private hospitals.
Out of 684 HD patients HCV Abs were positive in 322 patients with a prevalence of 47 %, while combind HBs Ag and HCV infection was positive in only 14 patients (2.1 %).
At the start of dialysis, there were 263 (38.5 %) patients who tested +ve for HCV-Abs, while there were 421(61.5%) HCV-Abs –ve patients. Out of these HCV-Abs –ve patients 59 (14 %) patients showed HCV-Abs seroconversion and 362pts (%86) still free.
In the present study we searched for the factors associated with HCV seroconversion, three of these factors were of a statistically significant value which are blood transfusion, vascular access and switching place of dialysis. Other factors like age, previous surgery, duration of dialysis, isolation procedures, infection control measures and Schistosoma were of no significant value.
Protocols to minimize virus transmission have been in place in HD units for many years. Even so, our study demonstrated that HCV seroconversion persists within dialysis units; the observed persistence of HCV seroconversion within dialysis units makes reexamination of infection control practice patterns highly relevant.