Nephrol Dial Transplant (1996) 11: 679-683
© 1996 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
other
Hepatitis C virus genotypes in chronic dialysis patients
Nephrology Department and Blood Transfusion Center, Hospital of Lecco, Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Milan Italy
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Correspondence and offprint requests to: F. Fabrizi MD, Senior Assistant, Nephrology Department, Lecco Hospital, 22053 Lecco, Italy
BACKGROUND.: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in dialysis patients. To further characterize HCV infection in this patient population, we studied the distribution of viral genotypes in 55 patients undergoing chronic dialysis treatment with seropositivity for HCV markers.
METHODS.: Thirty-two of 55 (58%) patients showed HCV RNA in the serum using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genome. HCV genotyping was performed using biotinylated type-specific oligonucleotide probes after hybridization with amplified sample material.
RESULTS.: HCV subtype 2a was dominant (56%), followed by HCV subtype 1b (31%), type 3 (3%) and 4 (3%). There was no association between demographic or clinical features of this cohort and HCV genotype. Genotype dependence was observed for antibody response toward the NS4(c 100-3 and 5-1-1) proteins, which was infrequent in genotype 2a carriers compared with genotype 1b (P=0.004).
CONCLUSIONS.: HCV subtype 2a was dominant in our cohort of anti-HCV-positive dialysis patients; there was no association between HCV genotypes and demographic or clinical features of patients; the absence of antibody response toward the NS4-related antigens was frequent in genotype 2a carriers and may serve to predict responses to interferon therapy. The relative homogeneity of the viral population in dialysis patients attending our unit suggests a nosocomial transmission of HCV in this clinical setting.
Keywords: dialysis patients; HCV genotyping; NS4 proteins
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. de Paula Farah, R. A. Carmo, C. M. de Figueiredo Antunes, J. C. Serufo, V. A. Nobre Junior, L. P. Fonseca de Castro, V. H. R. Leite, R. A. P. Silva, M. C. B. Alvares, G. O. Correa, et al. Hepatitis C, HCV genotypes and hepatic siderosis in patients with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis in Brazil Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., July 1, 2007; 22(7): 2027 - 2031. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. M. Schneeberger, I. Keur, W. van der Vliet, K. van Hoek, H. Boswijk, A. M. van Loon, W. C. van Dijk, R. H. Kauffmann, W. Quint, and L.-J. van Doorn Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Dialysis Centers in The Netherlands: a National Survey by Serological and Molecular Methods J. Clin. Microbiol., June 1, 1998; 36(6): 1711 - 1715. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|