Hepatitis C virus in renal disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most frequent cause of liver disease in dialysis and renal transplant recipients. Approximately 20% to 30% of the dialysis population is infected with HCV. HCV is also recognized as a cause of membranoproliferative and membranous glomerulonephritis. Enzyme immunoassay or recombinant immunoblot assay identify antibodies to multiple HCV antigens and are useful in the diagnosis of HCV infection, including infections in dialysis patients. However, after transplantation, HCV RNA identification by polymerase chain reaction is often required to detect the infection. The natural history of HCV infection using the new viral markers remains to be defined in patients treated for end-stage renal disease.