[National study of screening practices for hepatitis C among hemodialysis patients. Hepatitis Group]

Nephrologie. 1998;19(4):217-22.
[Article in French]

Abstract

French and American consensus conferences on hepatitis C confirmed the burden of that disease, especially in high risk populations. In France, the seroprevalence of HCV is about 20% among haemodialysed patients. This study aimed at describing the French screening practices in haemodialysed patients. In 1995, 1213 self-administered questionnaires were sent to nephrologists working in 715 dialysis units. The response rate was 48% (585/1213) and 485 questionnaires were analysed. In 98% of questionnaires nephrologists answered that they prescribed screening test. Routine screening with alanine amino-transferase (ALT) was reported in 98% of questionnaires, usually once a month (57%) or four times a year (23%). Routine anti-HCV serology was reported by 96%, usually once (28%) or twice (46%) a year. The two main annual strategies combining ALT and anti-HCV serology were 12 ALT and 2 serologies (21%), or 12 ALT and 1 serology (14%) per year. HCV RNA detection was reported mainly in the case of positive anti-HCV serology (70%). The study suggested heterogeneity in screening practices and revealed the need to determine the cost-effectiveness ratios of the various strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / classification*
  • Biomarkers
  • Biopsy, Needle / economics
  • Biopsy, Needle / statistics & numerical data
  • Comorbidity
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / blood
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / therapy
  • Hepatitis C / transmission
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Techniques / economics
  • Immunologic Techniques / statistics & numerical data
  • Interferons / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
  • Kidney Transplantation / statistics & numerical data
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephrology
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Renal Dialysis* / adverse effects
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Serologic Tests / economics
  • Serologic Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transfusion Reaction
  • Travel

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • Interferons
  • Alanine Transaminase