Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Dual Infection in Egyptian Patients on Haemodialysis

Hepatitis viral infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis patients. The aim of the present work is to study the prevalence and possible risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and dual infection in haemodialysis patients. Three hundred forty patients with end-stage renal disease, 266 males (78.2%) with mean age of 50.9 ± 11.6 years and 74 females (21.8%) with mean age of 53.5 ± 10.5 years on haemodialysis, were recruited from four haemodialysis units. They were screened for the presence of HCV, HBV and dual HCV and HBV infections and possible risk factors for acquiring these infections in those patients during the period between June 2007 and August 2009. One hundred ninety-six (57.7%) patients were HCV positive while 12 (3.5%) patients had HBV infection. A dual infection with both viruses was observed in 26 patients (7.6%).There was a significant difference in the number of blood transfusions among HCV-positive, HBV-positive and dual infection patients and negative patients (12.4 ± 7.6, 13.8 ± 6.8, 13.5 ± 8.3 vs. 5.2 ± 3.4 transfusions, p < 0.01). HCV, HBV and dual HCV and HBV patients have been on dialysis for a longer period than the negative patients (7.5 ± 5, 6.2 ± 3.6, 7.5 ± 5.4 vs. 4.4 ± 4 years, p < 0.01). Higher HCV was associated with longer haemodialysis duration and history of previous blood transfusion and not associated with dialysis in multicentres. HBV and dual infection is less prevalent than HCV in haemodialysis units.