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Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections represent significant public health issues globally.They are important causes of morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis patients.Patients with HBV/HCV co-infection have a higher risk of progression to cirrhosis and decompensated liver disease and have an increased risk of hepatocellular cancer (HCC).Because the two hepatotropic viruses share same modes of transmission, co-infection with the two viruses is not uncommon, especially in areas with a high prevalence of HCV infection and among people at high-risk for parenteral infection.Aims: To estimate the prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infection among haemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods: This single centered hospital-based study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Bikaner (Rajasthan), India.All the patients who underwent haemodialysis from November 2017 and June 2018 were included in the study.Patients of all age groups were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies by rapid card method-Alere Trueline, Alere Medical Pvt.Ltd, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.All positive cases for HBsAg were comfirmed by ELISA method-Hepalisa (J.Mitra & co.Pvt.Ltd).Okhla Indi.Area, New Delhi and for anti-HCV antibodies by Erba Lisa (Gen3) Transasia biomedicals LTD.Ringanwada, Daman,