Occult hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients: examining the evidence.

摘要

The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is greater in hemodialysis patients than in the general population. At present, nosocomial transmission is the main cause of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients. In dialysis units, testing for HCV relies on HCV serological and nucleic-acid testing of serum. Liver enzyme levels in dialysis patients with chronic liver HCV infection often are within the normal range. It is suggested that HCV RNA-positive patients who are candidates for kidney transplantation be treated for HCV infection.3 For patients who remain viremic despite antiviral therapy, a kidney transplant from an HCV-positive donor (with or without detectable viral RNA) can be used.