EFFECTS OF HEPATITIS C SEROPOSITIVITY ON ERYTHROPOIETIN REQUIREMENT IN END-STAGE RENAL FAILURE PATIENTS RECEIVING HEMODIALYSIS

Background: Anemia and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common problems encountered in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). It has been reported that anemia is less common in HCV (+) hemodialysis patients because of increased endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) production. The present study is aimed to investigate the relation between anemia, EPO requirement, and HCV infection in CRF patients receiving hemodialysis. Methods: Medical records of the patients who had received hemodialysis for CRF between January 2013 and January 2014 in two private hemodialysis centers were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The mean age of the 52 patients included in the study was 59.50 +/- 14.28 years and 55.8% of them were females. There were 22 HCV (+) and 30 HCV (-) patients. There was no difference between HCV (+) and HCV (-) groups in terms of age and gender. Conclusion: HCV (+) patients had lower EPO requirement and ferritin levels, but higher total iron binding capacity and hemoglobin levels than that of HCV (-) patients.