SEROCONVERSION TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS - A RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections wer e studied in 236 dialysis patients and related to clinical data at two hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden. Patients were followed during 12 mont hs and tested by 1st- and 2nd-generation anti-HCV assays. Time of sero conversion to HCV could be determined by retrospective analysis of sto red serum samples. A total of 36 (15%) patients were anti-HCV positive . Time of seroconversion could be determined for 23 patients and was i n the majority of cases associated with blood transfusions, but late s eroconversion (more than 6 months after transfusion) as well as lack o f transfusion in some cases implied that HCV might be transmitted thro ugh dialysis equipment. Persistence of elevated alanine amino-transfer ase levels for more than 6 months occurred in 17% of anti-HCV-positive patients. In conclusion, routes of transmission in dialysis units hav e to be further evaluated since routes other than transfusion may occu r and diagnosis may be delayed in this group of patients probably due to a poor immunological response.