HEPATITIS-B-VIRUS, DELTA-VIRUS AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTIONS AMONG OMANI PATIENTS WITH RENAL-DISEASES - A SEROPREVALENCE STUDY

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV) , and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were determined in 102 patients on regular hemodialysis, 82 kidney recipients and 103 no ndialyzed, nontransplanted patients with various renal diseases. The p revalence rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in dialysis and renal transplant patients (12.7% and 11.0% respectively) were signifi cantly higher than the rate in a control group of patients who had nev er been dialyzed nor transplanted (2.9%, P<0.05). In patients who were HBsAg positive, evidence of HDV infection was found in one dialysis a nd two transplant patients only. HIV infection was confirmed in only t wo of 102 (2.0%) and three of 82 (3.7%) hemodialysis and kidney recipi ents respectively. These data indicate that hepatitis B, delta and HIV infections are major health problems among hemodialysis and renal tra nsplant patients in the Sultanate of Oman.