الفهرس 
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Abstract
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is estimated to be 3% worldwide, Egypt has the largest epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world with 14.7% of the population are infected with HCV.
chronic hemodialysis patients are at higher risk for acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV). The prevalence varies among different countries and hemodialysis centers. Although guidelines for a comprehensive infection control program exist, the nosocomial transmission still accounts for the new cases of infection.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevalence differs among haemodialysis units according to their geographical location, health care procedure, Socioeconomic Factor, hygiene, sterilization of equipment, repeated blood transfusion and the number of years on dialysis .HCV causes both acute & chronic hepatitis. So the detection of acute (HCV) infection was carried out through monthly ( ALT ) & Anti (HCV) markers observation or detection of the virus by PCR . Elevation in serum (ALT) level often precede Anti (HCV) seroconversion. It should be noted that antibody in haemodialysis patient makes slower appearance than in non haemodialysis patient & serconversion may depend on each patient response, so diagnosis of (HCV) infection also can be made by qualitatively detecting (HCV) RNA using gene Amplification techniques e.g (PCR).
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HCV antibodies among haemodialysis patients in pediatric hospital ,zagazig university.
All patients in this study were given a Questionnaire for assessment of risk factors causing HCV infection in hemodialysis patients including (age, sex, cause of CKD, HCV antibodies at start hemodialysis, HBs Ag , family history of hepatitis, timing of seroconversion, duration of HD, previous blood transfusion, , infection control measures).
Thirty six subjects were enrolled in our study which divided according to ELISA results to positive group (26) cases and negative group (10) cases.
We then confirmed these results by direct nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) aiming to determine HCV prevalence among these subjects.
This study showed high prevalence of HCV infection in our HD patients, we found that longer duration on dialysis is a risk factor for HCV infection suggesting the role of nosocomial transmission of HCV in our dialysis unit.
Despite a lack of significance found for impact of blood transfusion on HCV-positivity, the role of transfusions could not be excluded .
So we have a relation between positivity of PCR and blood transfusion, liver enzymes.