Prevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Argentina

Background and Aim Blood-borne infections are a major cause of damage in individuals on hemodialysis (HD). In particular, knowledge about the viral status of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HD patients is gold data to face medical challenges. Related information is scarce in Argentina. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections in HD patients from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods Seven hundred and forty-eight HD patients were included in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Laboratories assays were performed to determine virological status. HCV genotyping was carried out by phylogenetic analysis of NS5B partial gene. Results Infection with one of the viruses was detected in 31.1% of patients [HBV in 82 (11.0%), HCV in 179 (23.9%), and HIV in 6 (0.8%)]. Thirty-two (4.3%) patients had two virus markers [27 (3.6%) with HCV/HBV, 4 (0.5%) with HCV/HIV and 1 (0.13%) with HBV/HIV]. Finally, one single patient (0.13%) presented all three markers. Time on dialysis was correlated with HCV infection but no with HBV. Distribution of HCV subtypes was inverted respect to the observed in general population [HCV-1a (73.2%) and HCV-1b (26.8%) in HD vs. HCV-1a (26.5%) and HCV-1b (73.5%) in general population, p<0.001]. Conclusions These infections, mainly HCV, continue to occur at a very high rate in HD patients. Results emphasize the need to consider a priority the HCV infected patients in dialysis treatment and to vaccine against HBV in order to decrease its morbidity and mortality. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement Not applicable ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Written informed consents to participate in the study were obtained from patients. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee from Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (record number 02032015-2/2015) in accordance with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration. All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes Nucleotide sequences for the HCV have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers [MK187268][1]/272/278/287/292-294/298/299/301/330/338 and [MN982201][2]-[MN982231][3]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=MK187268&atom=%2Fmedrxiv%2Fearly%2F2020%2F08%2F06%2F2020.08.04.20168385.atom [2]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=MN982201&atom=%2Fmedrxiv%2Fearly%2F2020%2F08%2F06%2F2020.08.04.20168385.atom [3]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=MN982231&atom=%2Fmedrxiv%2Fearly%2F2020%2F08%2F06%2F2020.08.04.20168385.atom