PREVALENCE, SEROCONVERSION AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B AND C INFECTION IN PATIENTS ON MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS

BACKGROUND: HBV and HCV infections pose a great threat to patients on hemodialysis and studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence and seroconversion rates. The present study was conducted to demonstrate the prevalence and seroconversion rate in patients with chronic hemodialysis and also the incidence of liver function derangement in patients with Hepatitis B and C. METHODS: HBV and HCV status of patients who were on hemodialysis irrespective of serological status and etiology of renal failure were observed. 205 patients were followed up for a period of one year and the incidence, prevalence and seroconversion of HBV and HCV was estimated through HbsAg and Anti-HCV ELISA tests. T-test was used to compare different biochemical and other parameters among two groups (Reactive and Non-reactive). Linear regression was used to calculate the relationship between the parameters and seroconversion rates. RESULTS: 205 patients were observed in the study. The prevalence and seroconversion rates were 11.22% and 4.8% in HBV patients and 18.54% and 6.8% in HCV patients respectively, at the end of the study. There was a significant correlation of the prevalence with average number of blood transfusion and elevated ALT levels in HbsAg reactive patients. Additionally, anti-HCV reactive patients correlated significantly with average number of blood transfusion and elevated ALT levels. There was significant correlation with mean duration of haemodialysis and i.v drug abuse in anti-HCV reactive patients. Regarding the seroconversion status only the average number of blood transfusions was having a significant correlation in both HbsAg and anti-HCV reactive patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and seroconversion rates were 11.22% and 4.8% in HBV patients and 18.54% and 6.8% in HCV patients respectively. Safety can be improved with the availability of more sensitive tests, increasing use of erythropoietin, timely vaccination for hepatitis B and adopting universal precautions.