[Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections as an eventual cause of chronic hepatic damage in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis ].

In 67 hemodialysis patients with high prevalence of HBV infection (64/67-95.5%) the occurrence of anti-HCV antibodies in second generation enzyme immunoassay was 61.2% (41/67). Among 40/67 (59.7%) patients with actually or previously detected biochemical signs of chronic hepatic injury the H Bs antigen or/and/anti-HCV antibodies were positive in 38 (95.0%) cases. High prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in studied population and their connection with biochemical signs of chronic hepatic injury shows the necessity of introduction the intensive prophylaxis of those infections in polish hemodialysis centers.