No evidence of occult hepatitis C infection among long-term Tunisianhemodialysis patients: A single-center study

Abstract

Introduction: Occult hepatitis C infection (OCI) is a new concept, characterized by the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA
in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), hepatocytes, or ultra-centrifuged serum, with no RNA detectable in plasma. This study aimed to
investigate occult hepatitis C infection in a vulnerable Tunisian population: chronic hemodialysis patients.
Methods: A retrospective study, including chronic hemodialysis patients of the Hemodialysis Unit of the University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba of
Monastir. Viral load was assessed by real-time RT-PCR on plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and chemiluminescent assay was used for
HCV antibodies detection.
Results: A total of 53 chronic hemodialysis patients were enrolled. Three patients (5.7%) had a history of HCV infection with a sustained virological
response. Multivariate analysis revealed that these patients had a longer median duration of hemodialysis (OR=1.33; [IC 95%=1.071-1.666]; p=0.01).
HCV RNA was undetectable in both blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in all cases. Thus, no OCI was identified in any of our patients.
Conclusion: A low seroprevalence of HCV was observed in our study population and no OCI were detected. However, considering the restricted
number of patients enrolled, this result should be confirmed in a larger population cohort.