DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i12.074

Pages: 5068-5072

Patients undergoing hemodialysis are prone to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. Elevation of serum Alanine Amino Transaminase (ALT) is suspected to correlate with the occult HCV infection. Our study is based on this observation to substantiate the findings or otherwise. This hospital randomized retrospective and prospective of about 2 years study, recruited 74 patients (55 males and 19 females) of stage – 5 chronic kidney diseases (CKD). After clinical evaluation, relevant laboratory tests, viral markers (HIV, HBV and HCV) and hepatic enzymes patients were followed after each hemodialysis. Patients with elevated ALT were subjected to HCV testing. Results analyzed. Preliminary data suggest a high frequency of occult HCV infection in dialysis patients with elevated liver enzymes who are anti-HCV antibody and HCV RNA negative.