Context: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are important causative agents of liver dysfunction in patients with chronic renal failure on renal replacement therapy and that leads to the one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Aims: To determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of HBV and HCV infection among patients with chronic renal failure undergoing renal replacement therapy at the renal unit of Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Setting and design: Hospital based Prospecto-retrospective study. Materials & Methods: The patients were selected from the Nephrology and Gastroenterology unit Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana. A total of 449 patients were selected out of which 27 patients were positive for HBs Ag and 18 for anti-HCV making it a total of 43 positive cases and 456 negative cases. 2 patients had coinfection with both HBV and HCV. Results: Of the total 449 patients selected only 43 patients was infected with HBV (6.45%,PD, 5.41% HD , and 12.1% RT )and HCV(4.83% PD,3.61 HD and 6.1% RT ). The prevalence of HBV and HCV among the patients who had undergone peritoneal dialysis was slightly higher than the figures for patients who had undergone hemodialysis. A good correlation was observed between prevalence of HBV and HCV infection with all 3 variables namely – number of blood transfusions, duration of dialysis and number of dialysis. Overall only around 7% of the patients could clear off the infection. Prevalence of HBV and HCV infection correlated with duration of dialysis, number of dialysis and number of blood transfusions. A significant percentage of patients died of causes other than liver disease. A higher percentage of renal transplant recipients developed cirrhosis compared to patients on hemodialysis. Conclusion: A good correlation was observed between prevalence of HBV and HCV infection with all 3 variables namely – number of blood transfusions, duration of dialysis and number of dialysis. Overall only around 7% of the patients could clear off the infection. Prevalence of HBV and HCV infection correlated with duration of dialysis, number of dialysis and number of blood transfusions. A significant percentage of patients died of causes other than liver disease. A higher percentage of renal transplant recipients developed cirrhosis compared to patients on hemodialysis. Outcome of infection in subgroup with peritoneal dialysis was better than that of hemodialysis patients.
