Prevalence and Detection of Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a significant global health distress, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. HCV is a disease that spreads through blood and mostly affects the liver. The condition may resolve on its own or progress to cirrhosis, fibrosis, or liver cancer. Chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis are at an increased risk for acquiring HCV infection due to cross contamination in dialysis units, blood transfusion, and kidney transplant. The aims of the study were to determine the genotypes among patients of HCV undergoing hemodialysis. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and types of HCV genotypes in hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the HCV positive patients undergoing hemodialysis were enrolled. Samples were collected from the dialysis unit of Farooq Hospital Lahore. RT-PCR was performed to determine the HCV genotypes. This study was conducted on patients of both genders and all age groups. Chi-square test was performed to assess any significant correlation between HCV genotypes in all age groups and both genders. Results: In this study out of a total of 80 hemodialysis patients, 19 (23.8%) were females and 61 (76.3%) were males. The most common genotype observed was 3 (72.5%) followed by 1a (12.5%), 1(10.0%) and 1b (5.0%). Conclusion: The current study revealed that the genotype 3 of HCV as the most frequent genotypes in the hemodialysis patients of our population with most patients in the age group of <60 years.