부산대학교 도서관

Background/Aims: HCV prevalence differs among hemodialysis units according to their geographical location, health care procedures, socioeconomic factors, reuse of lines, hygiene and sterilization of equipment, patient rotation of machines and the undertaking of rigorous universal precaution rules. The present study was undertaken to study the prevalence of acute hepatitis C in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patient on hemodialysis, treatment of acute hepatitis C among these patients with various treatment protocols. Methodology: The participant in present study included 889 hospitalized patients on maintenance hemodialysis of which 48 (5.4%) were found to be anti HCV positive. Of 48 patients who were anti HCV positive, 43 had anti HCV positive in previous more than 6 months. So they were excluded from the study. 5 patients who had anti HCV negative in previous 6 months and 8 patients with deranged liver enzymes but negative anti HCV were tested by HCV RNA quantitative and had detectable HCV RNA counts.These patients were diagnosed as acute hepatitis C and included in the study. Results: In our study end of treatment response was 50% across all the groups (p-0.465) with 33.3% in group A (no treatment group), 40% in group B (3 mu treatment group) and 75%> in group C (5 mu treatment group). When comparison between the groups was done for ETR, group A and group B showed statistically significant results (p-0.036) which could not be duplicated between group A and C (p-1.215) and group B and C (p- 1.102). Sustained virological response across the groups was 58.3% (p- 0.539), in group A was 33.3%, group B was 60% and group C was 75%). Again when SVR was compared between the groups, statistically insignificant results were obtained between all the group i.e. group A and B (p-0.533), groupAand C (p-1.215) and group B and C (p-0.225) Conclusion: To conclude HCV infection is being diagnosed more commonly in patients with CKD on maintenance hemodialysis. As is evident from our study HCV infection can be treated better with high dose Interferon than low dose standard Interferon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]