Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in pre-dialysis patients with chronic renal failure.

CRF affects people in their prime of life; they are often the Nation's workforces thereby leading to severe economic and social problems. Many patients with CRF who need dialysis, present for the first time in end stage renal failure. The commonest causes of CRF in Nigeria and other tropical countries have been reported to be hypertensive nephrosclerosis and chronic glomerulonephritis. Various studies in and outside Nigeria have documented an increased seroprevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in chronic renal failure patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Any association established between these viruses and CRF would suggest that the prevention and/or treatment of these viruses may likely lead to a reduction in the prevalence of CRF. Thus, forty-five (45) consecutive subjects with CRF and (45) age- and sex-matched control subjects who satisfied the eligibility criteria for the study were enrolled. Marker of HBV (HBsAg) was assayed using HUMAN Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Test. Marker of HCV (anti-HCV) was determined using the HUMAN ELISA Test. The mean age of the subjects was 37 +/- 14 years (range 17 to 62 years) while the mean age of the control subjects was 38 +/- 14 years (range of 18 to 66 years). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV in the CRF patients and controls P=0.74 and P=1.0 respectively. Although, the sample was small anti-HCV seropositive CRF patients were significantly younger than anti-HCV seropositive controls P<0.027. In conclusion, this study has shown that there were no significant differences in the prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HCV in the CRF patients and controls. A larger scale study may be more desirable in defining the role of these viruses in patients with chronic renal failure.