Related Experiment Videos
[Hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients and blood donors in Lebanon]
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity was assessed in Lebanese blood donors and hemodialysis patients. A low 0.41% of donors were positive, while 27% of dialysis patients showed HCV antibodies, highlighting significant risks in this population.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primary cause of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- HCV infection poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors and hemodialysis patients in Lebanon.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with HCV seropositivity in these groups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 7,771 blood donors and 317 hemodialysis patients across five centers.
- Second-generation Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) technique was utilized for screening anti-HCV antibodies.
Main Results:
- HCV seropositivity was found in 0.41% of blood donors.
- Among hemodialysis patients, the mean seropositivity rate was approximately 27%, with significant variability (10-39%) across centers.
- Blood transfusions, duration of hemodialysis, and donor screening emerged as key risk factors.
Conclusions:
- HCV poses a considerable risk to hemodialysis patients in the studied region.
- Implementing rigorous screening of blood donations for anti-HCV antibodies is crucial.
- Minimizing blood transfusions for hemodialysis patients may help reduce HCV transmission.
Abstract:
The agent of the majority of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis is the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this study, we estimate the HCV seropositivity in 7,771 blood donors and 317 patients on hemodialysis in 5 different centres, of which 4 are situated in Beirut. The used screening test consists of a second generation EIA technique. The study shows that 0.41% of blood donors are HCV seropositive. The mean percentage of seropositive patients is about 27% but the comparison of centres among them showed a high variability (10, 19, 21, 33 et 39%). The blood transfusion, the number of years on hemodialysis and the screening of blood donors seem to be the main risk factors. Reducing the number of transfusions to hemodialysed patients and screening antibodies anti-HCV in blood donations are primordial.