Hepatitis B viral infection in maintenance hemodialysis patients: A three year follow-up

AIM: To observe the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in maintenance hemodialysispatients. METHODS: Eighty-eight hemodialysispatients who had been receiving hemodialysisregularly for an average of 39.45 ± 7.57 (range from 36 to 49) mo were enrolled in this study. HBV markers were measured in these patients before hemodialysisand in 100 healthy controls by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMI) method in order to compare the incidence of HBV infection in hemodialysispatients versus normal healthy people. All patients were then divided into two groups: patients positive for HBV markers (i.e. those positive for HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, with or without positive anti-HBs) (n = 33), and patients negative for HBV markers (including those only positive anti-HBs) (n = 55). The following information was obtained for all patients: socio-demographic data, number of blood transfusionsand some laboratory investigations. After 39.45 ± 7.57 mo follow-up, HBV markers were measured in these patients by CMI. RESULTS: The incidence of HBV infection in maintenance hemodialysispatients was 37.5%, which was higher than in controls (9%). In the patients positive for HBV markers, there were 13 patients (39.4%) who had a history of blood transfusion, which was more than the number [12 (21.8%), P = 0.04] of patients negative for HBV markers. Eight of the 88 patients negative for HBV markers turned out to be positive, while three of the 33 patients positive for HBV markers turned out to be negative. There was no cirrhosis of the liver or hepatoma occurring in these patients. CONCLUSION: Maintenance hemodialysispatients have a higher risk of HBV infection than the average population. The number of blood transfusionsis associated with an increased prevalence of HBV. While it is hard for hemodialysispatients to eliminate HBV, the prognosis of patients with positive HBV markers is good.