Eleni I Konstantinidou1, Eftychia G Kontekaki2, Aristidis Kefas1, Theocharis Konstantinidis3, Gioulia Romanidou4, Eleni Fotiadou5, Viki Rekari6, Eleni Triantafyllidou7, Stavroula Zisaki8, Evi Kasmeridou9, Mariana Andreadou4, Konstantina Kantartzi10, Konstantinos Mavromatidis11, George Martinis12, Dimitrios Cassimos13, Elias Thodis10, Maria Panopoulou14, Konstantinos Mimidis15. 1. MD, MSc in "Infectious Diseases - International Medicine, From Bench to Bedside", Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 2. MD, MSc in "Infectious Diseases - International Medicine, From Bench to Bedside", Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece, Blood Transfusion Center, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 3. MD, PhD, Blood Transfusion Center, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece, Laboratory of Microbiology, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 4. MD, General Hospital "Sismanoglio", Sismanoglou 45, 69133 Komotini, Greece. 5. Laboratory of Microbiology, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 6. MD, General Hospital of Xanthi, Neapoli, 67100 Xanthi, Greece; General Hospital of Didimoticho, 25May, 141, 683 00 Didimoticho, Greece. 7. MD, General Hospital of Didimoticho, 25May, 141, 683 00Didimoticho, Greece. 8. Blood Transfusion Center, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 9. General Hospital "Sismanoglio", Sismanoglou 45, 69133 Komotini, Greece. 10. MD, PhD, Department of Nephrology, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 11. MD, PhD, General Hospital "Sismanoglio", Sismanoglou 45, 69133 Komotini, Greece. 12. MD, Blood Transfusion Center, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 13. MD, PhD, Democritus University of Thrace, Pediatric Department, Alexandroupolis Greece. 14. MD, PhD, Laboratory of Microbiology, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis Dragana Campus, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. 15. MD, PhD, First Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: HCV infection in patients under hemodialysis for end stage chronic kidney disease (ESCKD) may exist despite the absence of anti-HCV antibodies. Molecular methods are widely accepted as "gold standard" techniques for the detection of viral RNA. However, the molecular methods are more expensive in comparison to conventional methods and their replacement is not cost-effective. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV RNA positivity in anti-HCV negative hemodialysis patients and evaluate new diagnostic methods for the detection and the monitoring of hepatitis C in ESCKD patients. METHODS: The study was performed in four hospitals of Thrace region of Greece and 233 patients with no history of hepatitis C were enrolled. Measurement of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV core antigen was performed by microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay. Molecular detection of viral RNA was performed by the real-time RT PCR. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.9 ± 23.3 years. HCV-Ag was positive in 2/233 patients (0.86%). Nevertheless, viral RNA was negative in those patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the incidence of HCV-RNA in patients with negative anti-HCV Abs, in hemodialysis patients in Thrace region of Greece was negligible (0/233). GERMS.
INTRODUCTION: HCV infection in patients under hemodialysis for end stage chronic kidney disease (ESCKD) may exist despite the absence of anti-HCV antibodies. Molecular methods are widely accepted as "gold standard" techniques for the detection of viral RNA. However, the molecular methods are more expensive in comparison to conventional methods and their replacement is not cost-effective. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV RNA positivity in anti-HCV negative hemodialysis patients and evaluate new diagnostic methods for the detection and the monitoring of hepatitis C in ESCKD patients. METHODS: The study was performed in four hospitals of Thrace region of Greece and 233 patients with no history of hepatitis C were enrolled. Measurement of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV core antigen was performed by microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay. Molecular detection of viral RNA was performed by the real-time RT PCR. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.9 ± 23.3 years. HCV-Ag was positive in 2/233 patients (0.86%). Nevertheless, viral RNA was negative in those patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the incidence of HCV-RNA in patients with negative anti-HCV Abs, in hemodialysis patients in Thrace region of Greece was negligible (0/233). GERMS.
Authors: I Johannessen; J Danial; D B Smith; J Richards; L Imrie; A Rankin; L J Willocks; C Evans; C Leen; P Gibson; P Simmonds; D Goldberg; A McCallum; K Roy Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2017-12-11 Impact factor: 3.926