Epidemiology and Treatment of Hepatitis C infection in Hemodialysis patients

Hepatitis C infection is a major worldwide health issue. According to world health organization (WHO) it has 3% prevalence, and approximately 170 million people are infected by this virus. Hemodialysis patients are prone to different infections, including hepatitis C. Immune system impairment due to uremia, transmission of infection agents during the course of blood transfusion in anemic patients,shared hemodialysis equipmentand insufficient instrument disinfection increase the risk of transmission of hepatitis C and similar infections. Evaluation of presence of hepatitis C by qualitative, quantitative methods, determination of its genotype, liver biopsy and histological evaluation are laboratory and clinical approaches to detect and determine the type and progress of the disease. As there is no certain available vaccine for hepatitis C infection, protection of hemodialysis patients against this infection has a critical impact on morbidity and mortality rate in patients. Hepatitis C screening of patients who enter a hemodialysis facility for the first time and re-examining among hemodialysis patients at least twice a year are very important. On the other hand, practicing hygiene guidelines in hospitals and proper disinfection of hemodialysis ward and its equipment are of particular importance in transmission and prevention of hepatitis C.