Abstract

Background: Anemia is an almost constant complication of advanced renal failure, which may worsen preexisting heart disease and as a consequence accelerate the progression of renal dysfunction. Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are associated with higher hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared with those with no HCV infection.

Objective: To assess the effect of hepatitis C virus on erythropoiesis among Sudanese haemodialysis patients at Ibn-Sina Hospital and Al-Nao Teaching Hospital in 2017.

Material and methods: Prospective analytical case control study was conducted among 121 regularly dialyzed ESRD patients; 41 as cases (HCV- Positive) and 80 as controls (HCV-Negative). All patients were subjected to full medical history and examination to identify their age, original kidney disease, duration and route of haemodialysis, number of sessions per week, average duration of each session, dose of (ESAS) for patients on treatment and dose of parental iron for patients on treatment. Hb was examined in all patients.

Results: 121 ESRD patients under regular haemodialysis participated in this study, 41 as case group (HCVPositive) and 80 as control group (HCV-Negative). No significant difference in age and gender were encountered. The mean of Hb in case group was 11.6 ± 1.2 g/dl, while in the control group was 9.3 ± 1.8 g/dl. And the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). The majority of the case group 24 (58.5%) did not require treatment with erythropoietin; whilst the majority of control group 49 (61.3%) were using erythropoietin as 8000 weekly. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). The majority of the case group 34 (82.9%) did not require iron treatment; moreover, the majority of control group 39 (48.8%) were using 200mg of iron weekly. Again, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000)

Conclusion: This study concluded that haemodialysis patients with HCV infection tend to have higher haemoglobin, and lower erythropoietin and iron requirements than the patients with no HCV infection.

Keywords: HCV; Haemodialysis; Haemoglobin