Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection among haemodialysis patients in North- Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

There is paucity of information on the prevalence of HCV infection among patients with chronic kidney disease in Nigeria in general and North East Nigeria in particular, it is therefore necessary that the extent of the problem be ascertained in our centre. We studied 100 patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis and attending the nephrology clinic or admitted into the medical wards of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Patient’s demographic data including age and sex, were recorded. Anti HCV testing was made by the 2nd generation ELISA. Out of the 100 patients, 68 were males and 32 were females. Their ages ranged between 15 and 74 years with a mean (± SD) of 39.9 ± 13.58 years. The mean (± SD) age of the male patients was 41.71 ± 13.27 years and that of female patients was 36.06 ± 13.64 years.

Fifteen (15%) patients and eight (4%) of the controls were positive for HCV antibody, (p value = 0.001). We did not find age or sex predilection of HCV infection. Conclusions Hepatitis C virus infection is highly prevalent in haemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.