Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection and its Genotypes in Suspected Hemodialysis Patients, Southwest of Iran

Hemodialysis patients are more prone to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection due to the need for long-term hemodialysis and blood transfusions.

The present study aimed to determine the HCV infection burden, viral load, and genotype pattern in hemodialysis patients referred to a research center from 2011 to 2018.

Among 131 hemodialysis patients with suspected HCV infection, referred to Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran, from 2011 to 2018, the HCV rate was assessed with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the HCV RNA load and genotypes by one-step TaqMan real-time PCR.

The prevalence of HCV-Ab positivity was 29% among hemodialysis patients, of whom 21 (57%) were HCV RNA-positive. In the rest of the hemodialysis patients who were HCV-Ab-negative, the HCV RNA was detected in five (12%) patients. Genotype 3 (Gt-3) was the most prevalent one detected in 50% of the patients whose genotypes were determined. Also, the HCV viral load in HCV-seropositive patients was generally higher than that in HCV-seronegative ones.

This study showed that high HCV infection and different genotype patterns among hemodialysis patients compared to the general population are the main predictors of HCV infection, which indicates healthcare facility transmission because of inappropriate infection management practices.