PREVALENCE AND DETECTION OF GENOTYPE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN CHRONIC RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAEMODIALYSIS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PUNJAB

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is commonest blood borne infection among haemodialysis patients. Despite reduction of Hepatitis C prevalence after recognition of the virus and testing of blood products, haemodialysis patients still comprise a high risk group. Hepatitis C Virus is detected on the basis of serology, liver function profile and molecular methods. Genotyping is an important tool in epidemiological study, pathogenesis and reaction to antiviral therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and seventy six haemodialysed patients (117 male and 59 female) with appropriate symptoms were tested for Hepatitis C Virus infection between January 1, 2013 and February 12, 2016. The minimum volume of whole blood sample was 5 mL for ELISA and PCR. Detection of Anti-HCV antibodies was done by ELISA by kit from the J. Mitra and Co. Pvt. Ltd. Quantitative detection of HCV-RNA was done by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and genotyping done in positive cases. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Out of 176 Chronic Renal Disease patients 43 (24.43%) came positive for HCV RNA and 45 patients (25.56%) came positive for anti-HCV antibody. HCV Genotyping was done in 17 patients, among which 12 patients were positive for genotype 3 (70.58%), 4 patients for genotype 1 (23.52%) and 1 patient for genotype 4 (5.88%). Patients with Chronic Renal Disease with HCV Infection had received more number of dialysis sessions (Biweekly) as compared to those without HCV infection. Currently Hepatitis C virus is most frequently found in patients with chronic renal disease patients undergoing haemodialysis. The diagnosis of HCV is confirmed by detection of HCV-RNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction.