Abstract: TH-PO790
HCV Viraemia in Anti-HCV-Negative Haemodialysis Patients: A Myth?
Session Information
- Dialysis: Epidemiology, Outcomes, Clinical Trials - Non-Cardiovascular - I
November 02, 2017 | Location: Hall H, Morial Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Category: Dialysis
- 607 Dialysis: Epidemiology, Outcomes, Clinical Trials - Non-Cardiovascular
Author
- Griveas, Ioannis, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
Background
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still common among dialysis patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients should be screened for HCV antibody upon admission to the dialysis clinic and every six months thereafter if susceptible to HCV infection. However, previous studies have shown the presence of HCV viraemia in anti-HCV negative HD patients as up to 22%.
Aim: To evaluate the presence of HCV viraemia using HCV-RNA detection among anti-HCV-negative HD patients from a tertiary dialysis unit in Athens.
Methods
We enrolled 41 anti-HCV negative HD patients [M/F: 31/10, median age: 55 years (range: 18-88), median hemodialysis duration: 29 months (range: 2-345)] diagnosed with third generation enzyme immunoassay. One patient was HBsAg positive. HCV viraemia was evaluated using a sensitive (cut-off 12IU/ml) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (COBAS AmpliPrep/TaqMan system) test for HCV-RNA.
Results
None of the 41 anti-HCV-negative HD patients were shown to be viraemic.
Conclusion
Routine HCV RNA testing appears not to be necessary in HCV antibody negative HD patients.