RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEV AND HCV INFECTIONS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

The hemodialysis patients, having high risks for viral hepatitis have a prevalence of18% for hepatitis E virus and 41.5% for hepatitis C virus in our country. It has been reported that both viral agents are more prevalent in haemodialysis patients than normal population.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis E and hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients and to investigate whether there is a relation between them.

MATERIALS and METHODS: Ninty-four patients were included in the study. Anti-HCV was determined by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method and antiHEV by the enzyme-immunoassay method.

RESULTS: Anti-HEV and anti-HCV were found to be positive in 16% and 44% respectively. Anti-HEV was positive in just 20% of the anti-HCV positive patients

CONCLUSION: While the prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection is around 7%> in normal population, this ratio is 12-23% in hemodialysis patients. This concordance has remained unclear. Hepatitis E virus infection does not show a different pattern in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. The high rate of hepatitis E infection in hemodialysis patients seem to be related with nosocomial transmission.