Hou C H, Chen W Y, Kao J H, Chen D S, Yang Y, Chen J J, Lee S H, Wu D J, Yang S C
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
J Med Virol. 1995 Apr;45(4):381-5. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890450405.
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in chronic hemodialysis patients ranges from 20 to 50% and these patients may serve as a reservoir of infection for their household contacts. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-HCV in hemodialysis patients and their families, and to evaluate possible routes of infection. One hundred eighty-six family members of 84 hemodialysis patients and 529 healthy adults were enrolled. The family members consisted of 50 spouses, 96 children, 11 parents, 29 siblings, and other relatives living together with the patients. Serum samples were collected for testing anti-HCV. Exposure to risk factors was obtained by a questionnaire and an interview. The results showed that prevalence of anti-HCV in hemodialysis patients was 44%, whereas in family members it was 5.4%, not significantly different from that of age-matched healthy adults (standardized morbidity rate = 1.51, P = 0.390). The anti-HCV rate in family members tended to increase with age, and a spouse of an infected hemodialysis patient had a higher risk of HCV infection than other family members (15% vs. 2.6%, odds ratio 6.6, P = 0.058). Except for the age factor, no difference was found between seropositive and seronegative family members with respect to risk factors such as blood transfusion, surgery, frequent injections, dental procedures, or acupuncture. It was concluded that, although the anti-HCV positivity of hemodialysis patients is high, the risk of HCV infection for their family members is not higher than that of the general population. Among family members, spouses of seropositive hemodialysis patients have the highest risk of HCV infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
慢性血液透析患者中丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染率为20%至50%，这些患者可能成为其家庭接触者的感染源。本研究旨在调查血液透析患者及其家属中抗-HCV的流行情况，并评估可能的感染途径。纳入了84名血液透析患者的186名家庭成员和529名健康成年人。家庭成员包括50名配偶、96名子女、11名父母、29名兄弟姐妹以及与患者共同生活的其他亲属。采集血清样本检测抗-HCV。通过问卷调查和访谈获取危险因素暴露情况。结果显示，血液透析患者中抗-HCV流行率为44%，而家庭成员中为5.4%，与年龄匹配的健康成年人无显著差异（标准化发病率=1.51，P=0.390）。家庭成员中抗-HCV率随年龄增长有上升趋势，感染血液透析患者的配偶感染HCV的风险高于其他家庭成员（15%对2.6%，比值比6.6，P=0.058）。除年龄因素外，抗-HCV阳性和阴性家庭成员在输血、手术、频繁注射、牙科治疗或针灸等危险因素方面无差异。结论是，尽管血液透析患者抗-HCV阳性率较高，但其家庭成员感染HCV的风险并不高于一般人群。在家庭成员中，抗-HCV阳性血液透析患者的配偶感染HCV的风险最高。（摘要截短至250字）
