Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients

Object Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In the present study, the prevalence and properties of HCV i n HD patients were analyzed. Methods and Results Of 125 HD patients, 34 (27 %) were positive for antibody to HCV, and HCV-RNA was detected in 23 (68 % ) of the 34 patients using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, The HCV-RNA sequence analysis did not identify the alterations specific to HD patients with HCV, although one patient had a variant virus containing the deletion of the core gene sequence. When serial changes in the levels o f HCV-RNA were evaluated in 15 patients by a branched DNA assay, the values decreased immediately after HD procedure, but returned to the baseline val ues 2 days after the procedure. Conclusion These results indicate that HCV in HD patients is replication-competent, although a transient reduction in the levels of HCV-RNA occurs during HD.