HEPATITIS-C AND CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS - LI VER HISTOPATHOLOGIC ANALYSIS

Liver biopsies were analyzed in 21 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who tested positive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), using Elisa II and/or PCR. The study included 14 men and 7 women, the average age be ing 41 years old (range: 20-65). The average span of time under dialys is was 64 months (range: 12-192). Hbs ag. was positive in six patients . Patients underwent biopsy for showing persistent rise of transaminas e for more than 6 months. The modified Knodell Index was used to grade hepatic lesions. All biopsies showed chronic hepatitis, of which 2 we re associated with cirrhosis. Eight patients were infected with mild c hronic hepatitis, ten were infected with moderate chronic hepatitis, a nd only three patients had a severe lesion. Fibrosis was mild in 13 ca ses, moderate in 6, and 2 had cirrhosis. Chronic Hepatitis C character istic lesions analysis showed lymphoid nodules in 6 cases (29%), ducta l epithelium lesions in 7 (33%), and steatosis in 7 (33%). Chronic HCV infection in our patients seems to have histologic characteristics si milar to those reported in HCV positive non CRF patients.