Prevalence of hepatitis B & C viruses among patients on hemodialysis in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Problem consideredPatients on hemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of viral hepatitis due to high number of blood transfusion sessions, prolonged vascular access, high exposure to infected patients and contaminated equipment, and cross contamination from the dialysis circuits. This study was done to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) & Hepatitis C virus (HCV), in patients on hemodialysis in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, done at two different hemodialysis units in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, from October 2011 to June 2012, patients on HD were enrolled and clinical data such as age, gender, duration of dialysis, number of transfusions was collected from each patient. Serum sample was collected from each patient. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) & anti HCV antibodies (Ab) were measured and lab diagnosis was further confirmed by a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. ResultsOf 186 participants, anti HCV Ab was positive in 13 patients (6.99%), comprising 11 (84.61%) males and 2 (15.39%) females. Hepatitis C Virus nucleic acid was detected in all 13 enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positive patients. Six patients (3.23%) were positive for HBsAg, comprising 3 (50%) males and 3 (50%) females. Hepatitis B virus nucleic acid was also detected in all ELISA positive patients. One patient had coinfection of HBV & HCV, confirmed by both ELISA and PCR. Significant correlation was found between number of blood transfusion and anti HCV Ab and HBsAg positivity. ConclusionThere is low prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis B Virus in hemodialysis patients in this region.