Hepatitis C in hemodialized patients: a contemporary look

Abstract

The virus C hepatitis is a problem of public health. In the decade of the 90ties its prevalence in the hemodialysis units was significant, and since those times it has diminished thanks to the coming of the erythropoietin, to the donors' control, and the fulfillment of the biosecurity measures. Nonetheless, it has maintained a high incidence, surpassing the general population in 5-10 times. The infection is generally asymptomatic and indolent, evolving to chronicity in 80 % of the cases, and is related with an increase of the morbidity and mortality in hemodialized and renal transplanted patients. The treatment is the monotherapy with Interferon, secure, efficacious and able to introduce a virological and biochemical answer. It is expensive and produces frequent adverse reactions. Currently there is not a vaccine preventing its infection, so, the best treatment is the prevention through the strict fulfillment of the universal biosecurity measures. In the Hemodialysis Centre of Cardenas, it is a health problem; therefore the purpose of this work was making an up-dating on this theme. We reviewed several scientific works obtained from foreign journals and from other Cuban hemodialysis centers. This analysis has allowed us to go deeper in the risk facts, the clinical, epidemiologic and laboratory evaluation, and the therapeutic advances, making it possible to offer guidelines for its better management and to contribute with this knowledge to increase the quality of patients' medical care.