Prevalence of anti‐HCV and HCV viremia in hemodialysis patients in Taiwan

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Abstract
Hepatitis C viral infection in 125 hemodialysis patients from Taiwan was studied using a sec‐ ond‐generation anti‐HCV immunoassay (EIA 11) (Abbott HCV 2.0 EIA) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the HCV RNA in the se‐ rum. A total of 59 patients (47.2%) were positive by EIA II. In comparison, the conventional CIOO‐3 anti‐HCV assay was positive in 40 (32.0%). HCV RNA was found in 47 patients (37.6%). Patients with elevated serum transaminase level had a higher positive rate of anti‐HCV and HCV RNA. The dialysis time was longer for those patients positive for anti‐HCV than for those who were negative. A total of 57 of the 59 EIA Il‐positive cases had a history of blood transfusion. The HBsAg status did not influence the anti‐HCV positivity. Among the 59 EIA Il‐positive patients, 66.1% were also positive for HCV RNA, and of the 47 HCV RNA‐positive cases 83.0% were positive for EIA 11. It is concluded that the high prevalence of specific HCV infection and HCV viremia was present in these patients. Prevention of cross‐ contamination during dialysis and blood screen‐ ing before transfusion are important for the control of HCV infection in these patients.