[Blood-borne viral infection in hemodialysis units: special reference to hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1].

Hemodialysis patients are one of the high risk groups for blood-borne viral infection due to their need of blood transfusions for renal anemia. In addition, the hemodialysis procedure itself is a risk factor for blood-borne viral infection. Therefore, prevention of blood-borne infection in hemodialysis units is highly important. I would like to introduce our previous studies on hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in hemodialysis units in Fukuoka, Japan. In these studies, both anti-HCV positive rates and anti-HTLV 1 positive rates were significantly higher in patients having received blood transfusion than those not having received, and increased with the duration of hemodialysis therapy. In contrast, the positive rate of HBs-antigen did not differ with experiencing or not experiencing blood transfusion, nor did it increase with the duration of hemodialysis therapy. These findings suggest that infectious control of hepatitis B virus such as isolation of carriers and screening of blood donors may be effective for the prevention of blood-borne viral infection among hemodialysis patients.