HEPATITIS-C VIRUS VIREMIA AND HERPES ZOST ER VIRUS-INFECTION IN A PATIENT IN CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS TREATED WITH ERYTHROPOIETIN

Hepatitis C virus infection in chronic hemodialysis patients is associ ated with several unresolved problems. We report a 85 years old female patient in chronic hemodialysis and treated with erythropoietin, that during the course of an Herpes zoster, presented severe malaise, weig ht loss and muscle weakness. Two weeks later, a slight rise in serum t ransaminases was detected. The patient had negative antibodies HIV and hepatitis C virus and negative hepatitis B surface antigen. A PCR tes t was positive for serum hepatitis C virus RNA. The patient's conditio n deteriorated and she died 7 days after admission. Erythropoietin adm inistration whose immunosuppressive effect has been reported previousl y, could have influenced the dismal outcome of this patient.