Risk Factors and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B, C, and D Virus in Hemodialysis Patients in Istanbul

Introduction: Hemodialysis units pose a risk for transmission of hepatitis viruses. In this study, we aimed to detect the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis D virus (HDV) in our hospital's hemodialysis unit and to determine the risk factors for transmission of hepatitis viruses. Materials and Methods: In Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital Hemodialysis Unit, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core IgG antibody (anti-HBcIgG), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti- HCV), and anti-delta total were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in the serum samples of 50 hemodialysis patients. Risk factors for transmission of hepatitis virus were identified in hemodialysis patients. As a control group, 50 healthy individuals were included. Result: In hemodialysis patients, HBsAg was determined as 6% and anti-HCV as 28%, whereas anti-HDV positivity was not detected. HBsAg, anti-HBcIgG, and anti-HBs frequencies did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups, while anti-HCV frequency was found to be significantly higher in hemodialysis patients (p= 0.001). The mean age of HBsAg-positive hemodialysis patients was found significantly lower than that of HBsAg-negative hemodialysis patients (p= 0.045). Similarly, anti-HCV-positive hemodialysis patients had a statistically lower mean age compared to anti-HCV-negative hemodialysis patients (p< 0.004). Increase in hemodialysis duration and amount of blood transfusion were shown statistically to not affect anti-HBcIgG positivity. Anti-HCV positivity was found statistically significantly higher in patients undergoing hemodialysis for more than 10 years (p= 0.003). Conclusion: In hemodialysis patients, transmission of hepatitis viruses will decrease with promotion of the use of erythropoietin instead of blood transfusion and implementation of alternative methods of dialysis.