An Assay: Hepatitis C Doesn´t Incite Increased C-Reactive Protein Level in Hemodialysis Patients Unless Another Inflammatory Condition is Associated

Abstract

C- reactive protein has been considered one of the most important tools to detect inflammatory reactions. This study intends to identify whether or not hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, recognized through polymerase chain reaction- RNA (PCR-RNA), may incite an inflammatory response by itself, in the absence of other concomitant additional infection or inflammation in hemodialysis patients. All the hemodialysis 28 patients HCV positive in our Unit were included. Those 28 hemodialysis individuals were evaluated and divided in 2 groups: Group I (n = 14): positive HCV individuals with no other Infection- Inflammation detected and Group II (n = 14): positive HCV presenting another well-identified Infection- Inflammation. Results: HCV patients in Group I had adequate C - reactive protein, hematocrit, hemoglobin and transferrin serum levels while Group II- HCV reagent patients with another well-defined Infection- Inflammation associated- had increased C- Reactive Protein and decreased Hematocrit, Hemoglobin and transferrin. Conclusion: Despite the small number of individuals, data suggest that HCV by itself does not incite inflammatory reaction in HD patients, except when another distinct kind of Infection-Inflammation associated was identified. This fact was not previously objectively reported.