Abstract: The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients has changed dramatically worldwide since the identification of HCV as the major pathogen of non-A non-B hepatitis in 1989. On the basis of the similarity of nucleotide sequences, HCV was classified into six genotypes and approximately seventy subtypes. These genotypes have distinct geographical distributions. The molecular biology approach to detect hepatitis C virus genotype include restriction fragment length polymorphisms, direct sequencing, reverse hybridization line probe assay and so on. HCV genotypes have unique patterns of geographic distribution and are associated with differences in response to interferon treatment . HCV genotypes are also closely associated with pathogenicity, cirrhosis, hepatocarcinogenesis and survival rate of hemodialysis patients. Nosocomial transmission of HCV among hemodialysis patients has been unequivocally demonstrated by molecular virology studies. This article will review characteristics of HCV genotyping and its clinical significance in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis, HCV, Hepatitis, Genotyping