SEROCONVERSION OF HEPATITIS - C VIRAL INFECTION AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM END-STAGE KIDNEY DISEASES ON MAINTENANCE OF HEMODIALYSIS

Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the rate of occurrence of Hepatitis C virus infection in the patient suffering from end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) at onset of hemodialysis, to determine the seroconversion from Hepatitis C virus negativity to Hepatitis C virus positivity in the duration of study and various factors influencing this seroconversion. Methodology: This prospective research work carried out in CMH Sialkot and the duration of this study was from January 2019 to December 2019. The collection of the data carried out on a Performa and following up of the patients carried out prospectively. This research work included all patients of hemodialysis for more than one month. The exclusion of the patients suffering from acute renal diseases or on maintenance hemodialysis less than 30 days carried out. The analysis of the patients carried out by separating them into three different groups. Group-1 consists the patients who were positive for Hepatitis C virus at the start of hemodialysis, Group-2 consists the patients who were Hepatitis C VIRUS negative at the start and seroconvert to positive for Hepatitis C virus positive and Group-3 comprised the patients who were Hepatitis C virus negative in the start and did not change their status. Followed up of all the seronegative patients carried out at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months on being maintenance hemodialysis for their seroconversion. Results: Out of 230 patients, 52 patients were positive for Hepatitis C virus at the start of hemodialysis and 19 patients did not complete the follow up. Out of remaining 159 negative patients for Hepatitis C virus, 95 patients became positive for Hepatitis C virus, only 64 patients remained negative for Hepatitis C virus in the duration of this study. Conclusion: The rate of occurrence of seroconversion to Hepatitis C virus among patients on chronic hemodialysis is discovered to be 53.370%. Amount of dialysis, arteriovenous access, reutilization of dialyzer and transfusion of the blood are the important risk factors associated with seroconversion. Keywords: Hemodialysis, Seroconversion, Chronic, Infection, End-Stage Renal Diseases, Positivity, Negativit