Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Over a two year period, the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was evaluated in 29 hemodialysis patients, aged between 15 and 75 years (mean ± SD: 45 ± 39.5 years), from the University Hospital Hemodyalisis Unit, Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. Anti-HCV antibodies were determined using a fourth generation ELISA (Innotest HCV Ab IV) kit and positive blood samples were tested using a recombinant assay kit (Inno-LIA HCV Ab III), both kits from Innogenetics N.

[Viral loads in pediatric HIV patients with antiretroviral treatment].

Background: Viral load in pediatric patients with HIV infections can help to make therapeutic decisions to modify the evolution of the disease.

Aim: To evaluate viral load in positive HIV children with antiretroviral treatment.

Material And Methods: Viral load was measured every six months during three years in fifty pediatric patients chosen randomly in aged 1 to 12 years, using the Test Monitor HIV-1 AMPLICOR, version 1.

[Determination of HCV infection stage in a group of seropositive patients from Maracaibo, Venezuela by measurement the antibody avidity index of anti-HCV IgG].

Objective: To identify HCV infection stage in a group of seropositive patients from Maracaibo, Venezuela, using the measurement of IgG antibody avidity technique.

Material And Methods: We used a modification suggest by Leon et. al.

Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela.

Previous studies have not found hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela. A survey of 254 Bari and Yukpa natives aged 10-60 years (mean +/- SD age = 35 +/- 5.4 years) from four communities, two Bari and two Yukpa, in this area were studied to assess the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and HCV RNA among these indigenous populations.

[Immune evasion mechanisms of hepatitis C virus. Review].

Hepatitis Virus C (HCV) is a major worldwide health care problem. HCV infection usually tends to become chronic and can generate long-term hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. These affections frequently require a liver transplant to prolong the patients life.

[Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in patients of the Regional Viral Reference Laboratory (Maracaibo, Venezuela)].

Purpose: Collect and analyze information regarding seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in a population of 722 patients that visited the Regional Viral Reference Laboratory (Maracaibo, Venezuela) during the years 2000-2003.

Material And Methods: An immunoenzymatic test INNOTEST HCV Ab IV of Innogenetics was used to evaluate the presence of IgG type antibodies against the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the serum of the patients studied. Results obtained with respect to seroprevalence and other epidemiological variables, were organized and analyzed using SPSS 10.