Peritoneal Dialysis International, Vol. 12, pp. 28-30 0896-8608/92 $3.00 + .00 Printed in Canada. All rights reserved Copyright © 1992 International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis Prevalence of Hepatitis C Antibodies (HCV) in a Dialysis Population at One Center Rafael Selgas, Rosa Martinez-Zapico, M. Auxiliadora Bajo, Jose Ramon Romero, Jesus Munoz, Carmen Rinon, Blanca Miranda, and Jose Luis Miguel Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain Hepatitis C (HC) has been recently diagnosed by de- termination of specific antibodies that represent the former so- called non-A, non-B hepatitis. We studied the prevalence of plasma HCV antibodies among 61 unselected patients on hemodialysis (HD) and 43 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Plasma C- antibodies were determined through the ELISA test system. Transfusion policy was the same in both groups. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than among those on CAPD. Time on dialysis, previous blood trans fusions, and renal transplantation seem to increase the prevalence of C hepatitis antibodies among hemodialysis patients. The effect of these parameters on CAPD was smaller. Understanding the reasons for these differences may help prevent this disease among dialysis patients. KEY WORDS: Hepatitis C; non-A, non-B hepatitis; dialysis- associated hepatitis. H epatitis C has been recently diagnosed by de- termination of specific antibodies that represent the former so-called non-A, non-B hepatitis (1-5). Non-A, non-B hepatitis remains the most important complication of blood transfusion nowadays, and may induce chronic hepatitis (6,7). The relationship of hepatitis to dialysis has long been recognized, but the absence of a serologic marker has precluded a better definition of non-A, non-B hepatitis among these patients (8). Its prevalence among dialysis patients, who often receive blood transfusions, re- mains to be established (4). Patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) have fewer transfusion requirements than those on hemodialy sis (HD) (9). If blood transfusions are the main risk factor for hepatitis C, hemodialysis patients should be at a higher risk for developing this disease than those on CAPD. Correspondence to: Rafael Selgas, Servicio de Nefrolo gia, Hospital La Paz, Castellana 261, Madrid, Spain 28046 Received January 10, 1991; accepted Apri122, 1991. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of plasma HCV antibodies among our patients on hemodialysis and CAPD, both programs having similar transfusion policies. PATIENTS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was performed among 61 unselected patients on chronic hemodialysis and 43 patients on CAPD. Intravenous drug abusers were excluded from the study. The mean times on dialysis were 78±63 and 32±27 months respectively. Twenty-nine patients on CAPD and 22 on hemodialysis were treated for less than 3 years. Twentyseven patients on HD and 8 on CAPD were treated for more than 5 years. Only 5 CAPD patients had been on HD for periods ranging from 3-6 years prior to starting CAPD. Table 1 shows the blood transfusion requirements and previous renal transplantation status among these patients. Hemodialysis patients with positive hepatitis C test were treated in i solation with their own machines. Treatment of anemia with erythropoietin was introduced in our unit 2 years ago and has diminished transfusion requirements. No specific program of pretransplant blood transfusions was practised in these patients. Laboratory tests: Hepatitis C antibodies were determined by an ELISA test system (Ortho HCV Antibody) performed in duplicate for each patient. Hepatitis B serology was performed by a commercial kit (Enzygnost, Behring). Alanine aminotransferase plasma levels were measured by autoanalyzer. Twenty-four patients on HD and 3 on CAPD showed chronic and moderate elevation (2 to 3 fold) of aminotransferase levels and were classified as having chronic hepatitis, confirmed in 6 by liver biopsy. Two of the 3 CAPD patients from the biopsied group showed drug and ethanol-related hepatitis, and the third patient showed chronic active hepatitis Type B, according to the presence of serologic markers. None of the HD patients included in the biochemically hepatitis -diagnosed group had a clear etiologic factor; patients were diagnosed as having persistent or chronic forms