Sieroprevalenza di infezione da HBV e HCV tra pazienti in dialisi

The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among dialysis patients in the Lamezia Terme (CZ) area during the period 1999-2002. Sera from 63 patients in haemodialysis (HD) and 10 patients in peritoneal dialysis (PD) were analyzed with a follow-up every three months for HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, anti-HCV and anti-HIV (Elisa Test,AxSYM,Abbott);we analyzed reactive sera for anti-HCV by using supplemental test (RIBA Test, Ortho); we also looked for viremia (RT-PCR Amplicor, Roche Diagnostics) and HCV genotypes (Inno-Lipa HCV II, Innogenetics).The results show that, among the HD patients, 3 were HBsAg positive (Chronic Infection) and 7 HBcAb and HBsAb positive/HBsAg negative (Passed Infection); 14 individuals were anti-HCV positive. No patients in PD were positive for HBV and HCV markers.The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 4.8% (instead of 3% in other Dialysis Units), that of anti-HCV positive was 22% (in others 24%- 33%); among anti-HCV positive patients, the HCV-RNA prevalence was 79% (instead of 80%); the most recurrent HCV genotype was 2a/2c (instead of 1b in general population).These findings lead us to hypothesize that the environmental transmission in the dialysis setting is tightly correlated to the risk of HBV and HCV infection.