Background and objective: In endemic areas of hepatitis B and C, hemodialysis patients are highly exposed to these infections. So the authors studied the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among chronic hemodialysis patients in kouzestan province in the Southwest of Iran.
Material and Methods: We investigated serum samples of 214 chronic hemodialysis patients [134 male (62.6%), 80 female (37.4%)] for HBs antigen (reflecting HBV infection) by a specific solid-phase enzyme linked immunoassay method.
Results: The mean age of patients were 38 years. The overall frequency of HBsAg was 5.1% [7 male (63.6%), 4 female (36.4%)] and for anti-HCV was 7.9% [9 male (52.9%), 8 female (47.1%)]. The results indicate a significant correlation between HBV or HCV marker positivity and the duration of hemodialysis (P<0.005 and P<0.04, respectively). Also our results indicate although there was no significant correlation between variables including age, gender with frequency of HBsAg and Anti-HCV but hemodialysis duration and number of blood transfusions were found to be risk factors of HCV infection.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of HCV scropositivity among chronic hemodialysis patients in Kouzestan province has led to strengthen precautions in our hemodialysis unit. HCV serological and Molecular screening in blood donors is advocated.