HEPATITIS-C AND HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS AND STAFF - A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

To estimate the prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus ((HC V) and hepatitis virus (HBV) and the presence of infection, 101 patien ts receiving renal replacement therapy and 75 staff members caring for them were tested. Evaluation included detailed history, screening for anti-HCV antibody, HBV markers and liver enzymes 38% of patients were anti-HCV positives and 15 (40%) of these had antibodies to the hepati tis B core antigen indicating previous hepatitis B infection. Positive markers indicating HBV infection only, accounted for another 18% of p atients. All staff members were anti-HCV negative, although 34 (45%) w ere anti-HBc positive. Age, sex and history of blood transfusions did not influence the prevalence of anti-HCV and anti-HBC in patients. The re was, however, a significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HC V and anti-HBc positivity between polytransfused and occasionally tran sfused patients (p<0.05). During a 24-months follow-up a decline was o bserved in HBs antigen carriers from 20% to 10% and in HBc antibody ca rriers from 47% to 33%. At the same time, regardless of accurate preve ntive measures, an increase in incidence of anti-HCV seropositivity fr om 30% to 38% was detected.