Serological and epidemiological studies of hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus in a dialysis unit of Africa.

Hepatitis B infection is endemic in the tropics. Human immunodeficiency virus infection might also be endemic in parts of Africa. Blood transfusion is a major risk factor in the transmission of either virus. Patients with end stage chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis receive multiple blood transfusions. Three of twelve haemodialysed patients in a renal unit were found to carry the hepatitis B surface antigen. No patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, no patient with a Kidney transplant bore that antigen. Five out of twelve haemodialysed patients and only one out of seven patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis were positive for the hepatitis B surface antibody. No transplanted patient bore this antibody. This status remained unchanged for a year. Only one patient who initially was H.I.V. negative converted to positivity a year after.