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

• Published in: Nephrologie Vol. 19; no. 4; p. 217
• Main Authors: Ducret, N, Mercier, S, Colin, C, Vergnon, P, Laroche, C, Bailly, F, Caillette, A, Labeeuw, M, Trepo, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: Switzerland 1998
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - classification; Biomarkers; Biopsy, Needle - economics; Biopsy, Needle - utilization; 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 - utilization; 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 - utilization; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transfusion Reaction; Travel
• ISSN: 0250-4960

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.