Prospective study of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients by monthly analysis of HCV RNA and antibodies

2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 503-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Moreira ◽  
João Renato Rebello Pinho ◽  
Jorge Fares ◽  
Isabel Takano Oba ◽  
Maria Regina Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Hcv Genotypes ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Time Required

The aims of this study were to (i) evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients in two different centers in São Paulo (Brazil), (ii) determine the time required to detect HCV infection among these patients by serology or PCR, (iii) establish the importance of alanine aminotransferase determination as a marker of HCV infection, and (iv) identify the HCV genotypes in this population. Serum samples were collected monthly for 1 year from 281 patients admitted to hospital for hemodialysis. Out of 281 patients, 41 patients (14.6%) were HCV positive; six patients seroconverted during this study (incidence = 3.1/1000 person-month). In 1.8% (5/281) of cases, RNA was detected before the appearance of antibodies (up to 5 months), and in 1.1% (3/281) of cases, RNA was the unique marker of HCV infection. The genotypes found were 1a, 1b, 3a, and 4a. The presence of genotype 4a is noteworthy, since it is a rare genotype in Brazil. These data pointed out the high prevalence and incidence of HCV infection at hemodialysis centers in Brazil and showed that routine PCR is fundamental for improving the detection of HCV carriers among patients undergoing hemodialysis.Key words: HCV genotypes, hemodialysis, hepatitis C, PCR, prevalence, incidence.

scholarly journals Characterization of Occult Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) Infection among Hemodialysis Patient

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Nurul Fazlin Abdul Rahman ◽  
Hairul Aini binti Hamzah ◽  
Mohammed Imad Mustafa ◽  
Mohamed Hadzri Hasmoni
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Viral Rnas ◽  
Occult Hepatitis ◽  
Occult Hepatitis C

Introduction: The existence of new entity called occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a raising and escalating concern among healthcare professionals worldwide. It is defined by the presence of viral RNA in liver and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) within non HCV-infected patients. Previous study had shown the occult HCV is infectious and capable of transmitting the virus to another host. Till today, HCV infection remains common among hemodialysis patients despite having the best preventive plans. Because of this, there is a significant concern about the source of viral transmission. The aim of the study was to identify and characterize occult HCV infection in PBMC sample of hemodialysis patients. This was an observational and cross sectional study. Materials and method: PBMCs were isolated from the whole blood using Ficoll-gradient centrifugation technique. The PBMCs were then subjected for cell counting and stored in -70O C until further used. HCV RNA were extracted from these cells and viral RNA were subjected for molecular assays, immune cells analysis and cells culture. Results: PBMCs were isolated from eleven (11) study patients and five (5) anti-HCV positive (control) patients. By using automated flow cytometry, PBMCs of each sample were counted and the average number of cells obtained range from 2x104 to 5x106 cells/ ml. Viral RNAs were extracted and quantitatively measured by using NanoDrop Spectrophotometers. The viral RNAs concentration obtained were between 24.7 and 258.9 ng/ml. The RNAs would be subjected for purification (ethanol precipitation) and further assays. Conclusion: The final findings might contribute to the clinical management of dialysis patients.

scholarly journals Occult hepatitis C virus infection in patients with malignant lymphoproliferative disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 205873842096120
Author(s):  
Abeya A Lotfi ◽  
Asmaa E Mohamed ◽  
Nahela A Shalaby ◽  
Deena S Eissa ◽  
Ehab El-Dabaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Lymphoproliferative Disorders ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Occult Hepatitis ◽  
Occult Hepatitis C

Despite the link between HCV and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders has been established, the association between occult hepatitis C virus infection and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders remains obscure. The present study intended to identify the possible association between occult HCV infection and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. Newly diagnosed patients with LPDs were screened for the presence of HCV-RNA in both plasma and PBMCs. PBMCs of the subjects were also, examined by transmission and immuno-electron microscopy. LPD patients showed a high percentage of HCV infection (71.9%): OCI-HCV (37.5%) and HCV (34.38%). Meanwhile, 28.13% of LPD patients did not show any evidence of HCV infection. Ultrastructural examination of PBMCs revealed the presence of intracytoplasmic vacuoles enclosing viral like particles, which were less prominent in occult HCV patients. The possibility of occult HCV should be considered in patients with LPDs which can be helpful in the management of the treatment protocol in order to set up a balance between the control of the tumor progression and minimizing post chemotherapy complications related to HCV infection.

scholarly journals Patient-Care Practices Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 415-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayle Shimokura ◽  
Feng Chai ◽  
David J. Weber ◽  
Gregory P. Samsa ◽  
Guo-liang Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Chronic Hemodialysis ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Care Practices

Objective.To identify patient-care practices related to an increased prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among chronic hemodialysis patients.Design.Survey.Setting.Chronic hemodialysis facilities in the United States.Participants.Equal-probability 2-stage cluster sampling was used to select 87 facilities from all Medicare-approved providers treating 30–150 patients; 53 facilities and 2,933 of 3,680 eligible patients agreed to participate.Methods.Patients were tested for HCV antibody and HCV RNA. Data on patient-care practices were collected using direct observation.Results.The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 9.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2%–11.6%); only 2 of 294 HCV-positive patients were detected solely by HCV RNA testing. After adjusting for non-dialysis-related HCV risk factors, patient-care practices independently associated with a higher prevalence of HCV infection included reusing priming receptacles without disinfection (odds ratio [OR], 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4–3.9]), handling blood specimens adjacent to medications and clean supplies (OR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.3–3.6]), and using mobile carts to deliver injectable medications (OR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.0–2.8]). Independently related facility covariates were at least 10% patient HCV infection prevalence (OR, 3.0 [95% CI, 1.8–5.2]), patient-to-staff ratio of at least 7: 1 (OR, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.4–4.1]), and treatment duration of at least 2 years (OR, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.3–4.4]).Conclusions.This study provides the first epidemiologic evidence of associations between specific patient-care practices and higher HCV infection prevalence among hemodialysis patients. Staff should review practices to ensure that hemodialysis-specific infection control practices are being implemented, especially handling clean and contaminated items in separate areas, reusing items only if disinfected, and prohibiting mobile medication and clean supply carts within treatment areas.

scholarly journals Evaluation of an Isolation Program of Hepatitis C Virus Infected Hemodialysis Patients in Some Hemodialysis Centers in Egypt

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin R. Soliman ◽  
Mohamed Momtaz Abd Elaziz ◽  
Mona I. El lawindi
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
The Other ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Universal Prevention ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Regular Hemodialysis

Introduction. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Several studies demonstrated nosocomial transmission of HCV among HD patients. Aim. We aimed to evaluate the isolation program of HCV seropositive patients among a group of Egyptian haemodialysis patients to decrease the incidence of HCV seroconversion. Methods. One hundred and fourteen HCV seronegative patients who were receiving regular haemodialysis in different four haemodialysis units in Egypt. The first group included forty six patients on regular hemodialysis in two centers following strict isolation of the HCV seropositive patients, and the second group included sixty eight patients on regular hemodialysis in the other two centers not following this strict isolation. All these patients were followed up over a period of 36 months. Results. There was a significantly higher incidence of HCV seroconversion of patients on hemodialysis in units not following strict isolation of HCV seropositive patients (42.9%) than those on regular hemodialysis in units following strict isolation (14.8%). Conclusions. In HD units with a high prevalence of HCV+ patients, strict isolation of HCV+ patients in combination with implementation of universal prevention measures can limit the spread of HCV infection in HD patients.

scholarly journals Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Is there a correlation between HCV genotypes and the level of viremia?

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 230-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Delic ◽  
Zorica Nesic ◽  
Jasmina Simonovic ◽  
Neda Svirtlih ◽  
Ljubisa Dokic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Genotype 4 ◽  
Hcv Genotypes ◽  
Genotype 2 ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv

Introduction. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA status and HCV genotypes have become extremely important for exact diagnosis, prognosis, duration of treatment and monitoring of antiviral therapy of chronic HCV infection. Material and methods. For the purpose of precise and objective assessment of virologic analyses, such as the determination of the number of virus copies and virus genotypes, 110 patients with chronic HCV infection were tested. Genotyping of HCV isolates and HCV RNA quantification were performed by using the PCR method. Genotype lb infection was verified in 49.1% of patients, genotype 3a infection was found in 28.2%, genotype 4 in 9.1%, genotype 2 in 4.5%, while mixed genotype infections were diagnosed in 9.1% of cases. Results. Patients infected by genotype lb had significantly higher serum HCV RNA level in relation to patients infected by other genotypes (p<0.05). Over 70% of patients infected by genotype lb had more than 2xl06 virus copies in 1 ml of blood, while in genotypes 2, 3a and 4, the percentage was 40%, 38.5% and 30%, respectively. Male patients had approximately 7.7x10.6 virus copies in 1 ml of blood, which was significantly higher in comparison with female patients (2.3xl06 copies/ml; p<0.05). Conclusion. Our results are in concordance with the results of other authors reporting that genotype lb is predominant in Europe, as well as significantly higher incidence of viremia in patients with genotype lb infection in relation to other HCV genotypes. Based on these results, we can conclude that our patients, most commonly, present with severe clinical course of chronic HCV infection and require longer treatment (48 weeks), which causes economic problems. .

scholarly journals Predictive markers for hepatitis C virus infection among Brazilian inmates

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harnoldo Colares Coelho ◽  
Sabrina Alberti Nóbrega de Oliveira ◽  
Juliana Custódio Miguel ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Aguiar Oliveira ◽  
José Fernando de Castro Figueiredo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Needle Sharing ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Male Inmates

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has quite high prevalence in the prison system, reaching rates of up to 40%. This survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection and evaluate risk factors for this exposure among male inmates at the Ribeirão Preto Prison, State of São Paulo, Brazil, between May and August 2003. A total of 333 participants were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and underwent immunoenzymatic assaying to investigate anti-HCV. The prevalence of HCV infection among the inmates was 8.7% (95% CI: 5.7-11.7). The participants'mean age was 30.1 years, and the prevalence was predominantly among individuals over 30 years of age. Multivariate analysis showed that the variables that were independently associated with HCV infection were age > 30 years, tattooing, history of previous hepatitis, previous injection drug use and previous needle-sharing.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Evaluation of Serum Aminotransferase Levels among Haemodialysis Patients in Izmir, Turkey

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 641-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
AI Olut ◽  
F Ozsakarya ◽  
M Dilek
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Important Predictor ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Serum Aminotransferase

The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was investigated among haemodialysis (HD) patients. Mean serum aminotransferase levels were also compared over 3 months in HCV-seropositive patients with and without viraemia, as well as in HCV-seronegative HD patients and HCV-seropositive, non-uraemic, viraemic patients. Seroprevalence of HCV infection was 19% among the 437 HD patients tested. Of the 61 HD HCV-seropositive, hepatotoxic medication- and alcohol-free patients, 38 (62%) were found to be viraemic, using quantitative HCV-RNA, on at least one occasion. Mean serum aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in viraemic HD patients (compared with non-viraemic patients), suggesting that HCV-RNA positivity is an important predictor of increased enzyme activity in these patients. As expected, aminotransferase levels in HCV-seropositive HD patients tended to be lower than levels in HCV-seropositive non-uraemic patients.

HCV core antigen comes of age: a new opportunity for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Galli ◽  
Paul Julicher ◽  
Mario Plebani
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Core Antigen ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Past Infection ◽  
Antibody Assays ◽  
Ongoing Infection

AbstractThe diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been traditionally based on the detection of the host antibody response. Although antibody assays are available in different formats and are fairly accurate, they cannot distinguish between an ongoing infection with HCV replicative activity and a past infection where HCV has been cleared, spontaneously or after a successful therapy. As a chronic infection is mostly asymptomatic until the late clinical stages, there is a compelling need to detect active HCV infection by simple and reproducible methods. On this purpose, the clinical guidelines have suggested to search for the HCV ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) after anti-HCV has been detected, but this second step carries several limitations especially for population screening. The availability of fast and automated serological assays for the hepatitis C core antigen (HCVAg) has prompted an update of the guidelines that now encompass the use of HCVAg as a practical alternative to HCV-RNA, both for screening and monitoring purposes. In this paper, we summarize the features, benefits and limitations of HCVAg testing and provide an updated compendium of the evidences on its clinical utility and on the indications for use.

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