[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in a hemodialysis unit].
The prevalence of hepatitis C antibody was studied using the EIA 2 Abbott assay in patients and staff of the San Juan de Dios Hospital Hemodialysis Unit. The antibody was detected in 29.8% of patients, no member of the staff had positive antibodies. Patients with a positive antibody had been on hemodialysis for a longer time than those with a negative test (53.3 +/- 18.8 vs 37.9 +/- 33.5 months respectively). No differences in the number of transfusions received were observed between patients with positive or negative antibodies. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 2 patients, with negative hepatitis C virus antibody. No clinical evidence of liver disease was found among patients with positive antibodies.