Hepatitis C Virus among Iraqi Patients on Renal Dialysis,

Abstract

Back ground: Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common chronic liver disease at present, and HCV infection is found with variable prevalence in dialysis populations in different parts of the world.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of sialic acid and immunoglobulins level in the sera of patients with chronic renal failure whom infected with Hepatitis C virus, and the effect of hemodialysis on them.Patients&Methods: Regarding to this aim, total sialic acid levels (TSA) and immunoglobulins level were studied on the blood samples of 20 patients with chronic renal failure + Hepatitis C virus (positive group) and 20 patients with chronic renal failure (negative group) and 20 healthy volunteers. Serum TSA determinations were carried out by the resorcinol method.Results: In (positive group), the mean of TSA concentration (after hemodialysis treatment) was 68 ± 2.9 mg/dl, and the mean of TSA concentration in (negative group) was 110.7 ±7.5 mg/dl, while the mean TSA level in healthy control group was 58.3 ± 1.7 mg/dl. Its has been that this increase may be due to the increased synthesis and catabolism of glycoproteins and glycolipids in chronic renal failure patients. Also, this study aimed to assess serum concentration of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgM and IgA. Serum IgG was increased in patients of (positive group) and (negative group) with respect to control healthy (6.1, 5.5, 5.4 respectively) (p<0.05).There was no significant difference between the third groups in serum IgM concentration (6.6, 6, 6.2 respectively).Also in serum IgA concentration (5.8, 6, 5.5 respectively).Conclusion: We conclude that the TSA levels in the first groups both were found to be significantly elevated as compared to control levels (p<0.05), and Hepatitis C virus are linked to selective increase of serum IgG. Key Words: Hepatitis C virus, Hemodialysis, Sialic acid, Immunoglobulins.