Hepatitis C and hemodialysis: a review

Hepatitis C is a serious public health problem throughout the world; chronic renal patients are highly exposed to this infection. This could be due to a failure to identify carriers of this disease or because of a lack of truly effective biosafety measures implemented in the dialysis units. Molecular biology techniques have allowed for the understanding of this virus in detail, including its replication mechanisms. Epidemiological studies have been made throughout the world, with the goal of determining the dissemination dynamics of this agent, in addition to examining the predominance of the different genotypes, and the possible mutants that are involved. Many questions must still be answered concerning infection by Hepatitis C virus (HCV); this is especially important for immunosuppressed patients.Adolfo Lutz Institute Virology Service Laboratory of HepatitisIrmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São PauloFaculty of Medical Sciences Santa Casa de São Paulo Molecular Medicine LaboratoryFederal University of São Paulo Medical School Department of Infectious and Parasitic InfectionsUNIFESP, Medical School Department of Infectious and Parasitic InfectionsSciEL