OBJECTIVES: To address the question of whether there is any coincidence or cross-reaction between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hantaan virus (both RNA arboviruses), as well as to assess the frequency of antibodies to the above viruses amongst chronic haemodialysis patients in our region. DESIGN: Collection of serum samples from consecutive unselected chronic haemodialysis patients. SETTING: A tertiary referral center (University Hospital). SUBJECTS: One hundred and fourteen chronic haemodialysis patients were investigated for the presence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and Hantaan virus disease (anti-HVD). Eleven unselected non-haemodialysis patients with well-defined haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were also investigated for the anti-HCV antibodies comprising the disease control group. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The utility of an anti-HVD positive test in chronic haemodialysis patients. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (14.9% 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4-21.4%) were anti-HCV positive, whereas 15 (13.2%, 95% CI 6.9-19.3%) were anti-HVD positive. An anti-HCV positive test was confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA II) in 88.2%. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies was not associated with transfusions but with the longer duration of haemodialysis (62.8 +/- 29.8 vs. 31.2 +/- 29.3 months, P < 0.001). Anti-HVD antibodies were not associated with transfusions or with the duration of haemodialysis. Three patients were positive for both anti-HCV and anti-HVD antibodies. None of the 11 patients with well-defined HFRS had anti-HCV antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic haemodialysis patients are a high risk group for HCV infection in association with the duration of haemodialysis and, at least for our geographical area, these patients have to be examined for anti-HVD antibodies especially when a definite causative agent for chronic renal failure is not found. The HVD and HCV infection are not exceptional amongst haemodialysis patients in our region, whereas the possibility of a cross-reaction between these two RNA arboviruses is rather excluded as there was no evidence of HCV infection amongst the patients with well-defined HFRS.
OBJECTIVES: To address the question of whether there is any coincidence or cross-reaction between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hantaan virus (both RNA arboviruses), as well as to assess the frequency of antibodies to the above viruses amongst chronic haemodialysispatients in our region. DESIGN: Collection of serum samples from consecutive unselected chronic haemodialysispatients. SETTING: A tertiary referral center (University Hospital). SUBJECTS: One hundred and fourteen chronic haemodialysispatients were investigated for the presence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and Hantaan virus disease (anti-HVD). Eleven unselected non-haemodialysis patients with well-defined haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were also investigated for the anti-HCV antibodies comprising the disease control group. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The utility of an anti-HVD positive test in chronic haemodialysispatients. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (14.9% 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4-21.4%) were anti-HCV positive, whereas 15 (13.2%, 95% CI 6.9-19.3%) were anti-HVD positive. An anti-HCV positive test was confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA II) in 88.2%. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies was not associated with transfusions but with the longer duration of haemodialysis (62.8 +/- 29.8 vs. 31.2 +/- 29.3 months, P < 0.001). Anti-HVD antibodies were not associated with transfusions or with the duration of haemodialysis. Three patients were positive for both anti-HCV and anti-HVD antibodies. None of the 11 patients with well-defined HFRS had anti-HCV antibodies. CONCLUSIONS:Chronic haemodialysispatients are a high risk group for HCV infection in association with the duration of haemodialysis and, at least for our geographical area, these patients have to be examined for anti-HVD antibodies especially when a definite causative agent for chronic renal failure is not found. The HVD and HCV infection are not exceptional amongst haemodialysis patients in our region, whereas the possibility of a cross-reaction between these two RNA arboviruses is rather excluded as there was no evidence of HCV infection amongst the patients with well-defined HFRS.
Authors: Paraskevi Mina; Sarah P Georgiadou; Christos Rizos; George N Dalekos; Eirini I Rigopoulou Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2010-01-14 Impact factor: 5.742