THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTI-HCV IgM AND VIREMIA (HCV-RNA) IN THE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HCV INFECTION.

İn the present study, anti-HCV IgM (EIA, Abbott), HCV-RNA by PCR and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined in 30 hemodialysis patients (16 F, 14 M) detected for anti-HCV positivity (ELISA-I1, Abbott) at least for 6 months, and the relationship among anti-HCV IgM, HCV RNA and ALT levels were investigated.

Anti-HCV IgM in 13 patients (43%) and HCV-RNA in 17 patients (56%) were found to be positive. High ALT levels were present in 11 patients. There was no difference between anti-HCV positive and negative patients in respect to age, sex, ALT levels and viremia. Histopathological findings of 8 liver biopsies showed chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in 6 patients and chronic persistent hepatitis in 2 patients. Anti-HCV IgM was positive in 3 of 6 patients with CAH and negative in the others.

Finaly we found that, in chronic HCV infection antiHCV IgM positivity persisted for a long time, but there was no association between anti-HCV IgM positivity and ALT levels, histopathological patterns and viremia. Therefore, we belive that anti-HCV IgM test does not provide additional contribution to the diagnosis and does not superior to the anti- HCV (ELISA -II) test.