Abstract:

【Abstract】Objective To investigate the prevalence and cause of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods Clinical data of the 163 MHD patients was recruited. The prevalence of hepatitis virus infections was analyzed in association with the duration of hemodialysis and the history of renal transplantation, surgery and blood transfusion. Results Eighteen patients (11.0%) were infected with HBV, and 14 patients (8.6%) with HCV. Patients with HCV infection usually had longer hemodialysis durations (79.0±51.6 months). A large part of the patients with HCV infection had the history of renal transplantation (6/14) or were detected before hemodialysis (7/14). In contrast, most HBV infections were found before hemodialysis (17/18). Conclusion The proportion of HCV and HBV infections was similar in MHD patients. Most HCV infections occurred after renal transplantation, surgery or blood transfusion, but most HBV infections were primary ones.

Key words: Hepatitis C virus, Hepatitis B virus