engleski

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients on regular hemodialysis

Background and purpose. Hepatitis C (HC) prevalence is relatively high in patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) program. Variations in the viral genome may lead to different clinical manifestations of the disease and to variations in the response to treatment. The distribution of HCV genotypes is related to the geographical area and depends on population-specific risk factors. The purpose of the study was to assess the distribution of HCV genotypes in patients on regular hemodialysis. Matherial and methods. Testing for HCV RNA was performed in 95 patients on regular hemodialysis in Dialysis Centre, Urology Department, University Hospital Center Zagreb, using Amplicor HCV test and quantitative Amplicor Monitor test. Inno Lipa HCV test was used for the determination of HCV genotype. Results: HCV RNA was positive in 40/95 patients (53.6%). In the group of 56 anti HCV+ (EIA 3 test), HCV RNA was positive in 38 (67.6%)patients. Positive HCV RNA was found in 2 anti HCV negative patients who later developed clinical signs of acute hepatitis C. Genotype 1b was dominant (29/40, 72.5%), followed by type 3 (8/40, 20%). Types 4 and 1a were found in two patients. In one patient HCV genotype could not be determined. All HCV RNA positive patients presented with viral load ranging from 5x103 to 6x106 copies/ml. Conclusion. The distribution and frequency of the HCV genotypes in hemodialysed patients followed the general distribution pattern recorded in Croatian blood donors with a predominance of types 1b and 3a that were found in 71.6% and in 10, 7 % of cases respectively. The presence of four different HCV genotypes may be explained by the relatively high patient turnover in the Center, where patients from other centers come for the treatment of complications of vascular access.

hepatitis C virus; HCv genotype; regular hemodialysis

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