ANTI-HCV PREVALENCE IN OUR HEMODIALYSIS UNIT DURING LAST 10 YEARS

We determined anti-HCV prevalence in 89 hemodialysis patients in our unit and evaluated the relationship with hemodialysis duration and blood transfusion. Also comparing these findings with the results of the studies at 1990 and 1994 in our unit, we detected the changes in anti-HCV prevalence during last 10 years and possible factors in this change. HCVantibodies were evaluated with third generation enzyme immunoassay method. Mean age of the patients was 46.5=17 (11-75) years. Dialysis duration and transfusion number were 34.2±36.5 months and 5.1±4.9 units, respectively. Anti-HCV prevalence was decreased from 48 % to 29 % (x2= 4.08, p=0.04) from 1990 to 1994 years. Anti-HCV prevalence was decreased to 19.1 % (17 patients) in 2000, but this decrease (from 1994 to 2000) was not statistically significant (x2=1.80, p=0.18). The relationships between anti-HCV positivity and dialysis duration (p=0.005), and transfusion number (p=0.000) were significant. We conclude that anti-HCV prevalence decreased in our unit during last 10 years. The separation of anti-HCV positive and negative machines, the lower transfusion need due to eryhropoietin treatment and strict application of infection control rules may be responsible for this situation.