Logo-aim
Arch Iran Med. 2020;23(9): 586-592.
doi: 10.34172/aim.2020.68

Scopus ID: 85091810804
  Abstract View: 2573
  PDF Download: 1395

Original Article

Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Hemodialysis Patients: An Iranian Experience

Sedigheh Taherpour 1 ORCID logo, Davod Javanmard 1,2, Masood Ziaee 1* ORCID logo

1 Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
2 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding Author: Masood Ziaee, MD; Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Ghafari Ave., Birjand, 9717853577, Iran. Tel: +98-9151613942, Fax: +98-5632433004, Email: , Email: dr.masood.ziaee@bums.ac.ir

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic kidney failure and those undergoing chronic hemodialysis (CHD) treatment are at high risk of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The incidence of occult HCV infection (OCI) in CHD remains controversial and the real burden of HCV in this population may be affected by the rate of OCI. This study evaluates the molecular assessment of OCI in CHD in an Iranian population.

Methods: All subjects on CHD in the South Khorasan province of Iran were invited for participation in the study. Whole blood samples were taken and serological, clinical, and demographic information was recorded. HCV-RNAs were checked in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using an in-house semi-nested PCR assay. Viral load was determined using a real-time PCR-based quantification kit. Sequencing was performed to determine genotypes.

Results: Overall, 120 cases participated in the study; 57.5% were male and the rest were female. In serum samples, no positive case was found for HCV-RNA. In PBMC samples, 2/120 (1.6%) were positive for HCV-RNA (95% CI, 0.002 to 0.059); the mean age of OCI positive cases was 37.5 ± 19.2 years which was significantly lower than OCI negative cases (P = 0.026). Only one case had detectable viral load which was 49 IU/mL. The only HCV genotype identified was 1a.

Conclusion: This study showed that there is a risk of OCI among CHD patients; the very low and undetectable viral loads of OCI warrant further follow-up molecular testing for earlier diagnosis and treatment in the era of DAA.


Cite this article as: Taherpour S, Javanmard D, Ziaee M. Occult hepatitis C virus infection among hemodialysis patients: an Iranian experience. Arch Iran Med. 2020;23(9):586–592. doi: 10.34172/aim.2020.68.
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
Comments
Security code


Abstract View: 2574

Your browser does not support the canvas element.


PDF Download: 1395

Your browser does not support the canvas element.

Submitted: 14 Dec 2019
Accepted: 09 Mar 2020
ePublished: 01 Sep 2020
EndNote EndNote

(Enw Format - Win & Mac)

BibTeX BibTeX

(Bib Format - Win & Mac)

Bookends Bookends

(Ris Format - Mac only)

EasyBib EasyBib

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Medlars Medlars

(Txt Format - Win & Mac)

Mendeley Web Mendeley Web
Mendeley Mendeley

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Papers Papers

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

ProCite ProCite

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Reference Manager Reference Manager

(Ris Format - Win only)

Refworks Refworks

(Refworks Format - Win & Mac)

Zotero Zotero

(Ris Format - Firefox Plugin)