[Hepatitis E virus seropositivity in hemodialysis patients in Hatay province, Turkey].

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) which is mainly transmitted through faecal-oral route, can also be transmitted via parenteral and vertical route. Recent studies suggest zoonotic nature of the virus. The last studies done in Turkey indicate increasing frequency of HEV infection. This study was conducted to determine the rate of anti-HEV seropositivity among patients with terminal stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. A total of 92 patients (54 male, 38 female; age range: 22-71 years, mean age: 55 +/- 11 years) who had undergone hemodialysis for a mean period of 66 +/- 18 months, were included to the study. HEV antibodies were analyzed using anti-HEV IgG enzyme immunoassay (ELISA, Dia.Pro Diagnostic Bioprobes, Italy). In order to study the relationship of anti-HEV positivity between hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infections, anti-HCV antibody and HBsAg were also considered. Mean age, duration of hemodialysis, platelet, serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, blood transfusion history were the other evaluated parameters. Anti-HEV IgG positivity was detected in 19 (20.6%) patients, while 7 (7.6%) had anti-HCV positivity and 4 (4.3%) had HBsAg positivity. No statistically significant relation was determined between anti-HEV IgG positive and negative patients in terms of hemodialysis duration, blood transfusion, other laboratory findings and anti-HCV and HBsAg positivity (p > 0.05). While the anti-HEV seropositivity rate (20.6%) determined in this study was higher than the rates determined in the same group of patients in the western part of the country (10-16%), the rate was similar to the rates reported from the southeastern part (23%) of Turkey. It can be concluded that screening of patients before or during hemodialysis in terms of anti-HEV antibodies, seems to be of crucial importance in order to establish necessary precautions to prevent parenteral and/or nosocomial transmission of HEV.