Prevalence and clinical relevance of hepatitis C virus viremia in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Patients on routine hemodialysis (HD) present a high prevalence of anti-HCV+, but a low frequency of clinical signs of liver disease, To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus viremia in HD patients, 53 anti-HCV+ and 28 anti-HCV- patients on chronic dialysis were examined, Viral RNA was investigated using two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, Viremia was detected in 34 of 53 (64.1%, with PCR-1) and in 35 of 53 (66%, with PCR-2) anti-HCV+ and in 1 of 28 anti-HCV- (3.5%) (PCR-1 and -2), Time spent on dialysis, blood transfusion and chronic liver disease were comparable in PCR+ and PCR- patients, but acute liver disease occurred more frequently In PCR+ patients (p < 0.02). No relationship was found between viremia and RIBA 2 antigens (Ortho), In conclusion, in our population there was a high frequency of viremia in anti-HCV+ patients, but viral replication was only detected using a direct method such as PCR, We think that genome detection may be the basis for future therapeutic and preventive strategies.