ANTIBODIES TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN UREMIC PATIENTS ON CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS

The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among 101 uremic patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was evaluated using a synthetic peptide-based HCV antibodies enzyme immunoassay. Thirty (29.7%) were found anti-HCV positive. This is significantly higher than 500 unselected paid blood donors (4.2%, P < 0.0001). Among CAPD patients, anti-HCV positivity was found more frequently in patients who had received frequent and longer duration of hemodialysis previously (40.4% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that hemodialysis patients have a higher risk of HCV infection. At present, CAPD may be a suitable way to reduce the incidence of HCV infection in uremic patients.