Hepatitis c virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Sudan : two centers' report

Abstract EN

Prevalence of HCV seropositivity among the hemodialysis population in Sudan is estimated to be around 34 %.

We undertook a cross sectional study in two major HD centers in Khartoum, Sudan for the prevalence of HCV seropositivity among the hemodialysis patients, during January to-March 2005.

Testing for HCV antibodies was performed using 3 rd generation enzyme linked immunoadsorption assay (ELISA).

A total of 236 patients were included in the study : 218 adults and 18 children.

The mean age was 43.6 ± 15.6 years, and the majority was males : 71.6 %.

The cause of renal failure was unknown in 168 patients (71.2 %).

The mean HD duration was 36.6 ± 35.1 months.

Prevalence of HCV seropositivity was 23.7 %.

Among 170 patients who were previously HCV seronegative, 30 (17.1 %) seroconverted to positive in one year (estimated incidence : 63 new cases per year).

HCV seropositivity was associated with longer duration of dialysis (p < 0.00001), previous surgery (p = 0.026), age of over 30 and years (p = 0.008), and dialysis in multiple centers (p = 0.005).

We conclude that although HCV seropositivity in our study was lower than previously reported, it was still high among HD patients in Sudan.

Nosocomial transmission of HCV among hemodialysis patients is a contributing factor.