SEROPOSITIVITY TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN TUNISIAN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies and of hepatitis B markers (HBs antigen, anti-hepatitis B core antigen) was a ssessed in 63 haemodialysis patients from the Tunisian Sahel. As measu red by second generation ELISA assays (Ortho and Organon), the frequen cy of anti-HCV antibodies was 42% (27/63), while 4 patients (6.3%) wer e HBs Ag positive and 30 (47.6%) anti-HBc positive. Anti-HCV seroposit ivity was significantly correlated with duration of dialysis (p = 0.00 7) and number of blood transfusions >10 units, p = 0.0004). Among 12 s ubjects with a history of abnormal ALAT levels, 10 were anti-HCV posit ive (P = 0.0016) and the results suggest hepatitis C viral infection t o be the main cause of liver disease in haemodialysis patients in Tuni sia.