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Hepatitis infection in haemodialysis patients
Author(s) -
HUANG ChiuChing
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1797
pISSN - 1320-5358
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1797.2002.00105.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , ribavirin , cirrhosis , hepatitis , hepatitis c , hepatitis b , liver disease , hepatitis c virus , lamivudine , hepatitis b virus , virology , gastroenterology , immunology , virus
SUMMARY: Known hepatitis infections among haemodialysis patients include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis G and TT virus. Haemodialysis patients with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C infection may progress to develop significant morbidity, such as cirrhosis, hepatitic failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B infection may be treated with α‐interferon or lamivudine. Hepatitis C infection may be treated with α‐interferon, but frequent severe adverse effects were observed, while ribavirin is contraindicated for patients with renal failure. Treatment for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C are costly, and the risk of post‐transplant reactivation of hepatitis has been reported. Prevention of nosocomial transmission of hepatitis infection with strict infection control and universal precautions is more important. Accumulating evidence suggests that both hepatitis G virus and TT virus (TTV) are not significant causes of liver disease. Routine screening for hepatitis G or TTV viraemia in haemodialysis patients is not indicated at present.