PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-ANTIBODIE S IN CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AND KIDNEY-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS IN THE 9TH REGION CHILE

Hepatitis C virus antibodies were measured in 26 chronic hemodialyzed patients and 43 kidney transplant recipients, using a second generatio n ELISA method. Fifty four percent of hemodialyzed had a longer durati on of dialysis treatment compared with patients with negative antibodi es (57.6 +/- 30.5 vs 15.4 +/- 7.3 months), and did not differ in the n umber of transfusions. Seven patients had elevated serum transaminase values, all with positive antibodies. Thirty five percent of kidney tr ansplant recipients had positive antibodies. In these subjects, no rel ation was observed between the number of transfusions or length of dia lysis treatment and the presence of positive hepatitis C antibodies.