Prevalence and Determinants of Kidney Markers among Subjects with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide public health problem with multisystemic involvements including kidneys. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of kidney markers among HCV infected subjects. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2017 in two referral centers in Yaoundé. Sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical data were collected from patient's records. Renal involvement was evaluated using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease's (MDRD) equation, urine dipstick and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). An eGFR < 60 and between 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m 2 was defined as low and reduced respectively. Albuminuria was defined by an ACR > 30 mg/g and divided into A1 (<30 mg/g), A2 (30-300 mg/g) and A3 (>300 mg/g). Results: We included 65 (41.5% males) HCV infected patients with a mean age of 56.8 ± 10.5 years. HCV infection was diagnosed for more than 5 years in 54 (83.1%) patients. HCV viral load and genotype were available in 40 (61.5%) patients; viral load was high (>5.9 logs/mL) in 20 (50%) of them and genotypes 4 (40%), 1 (32.5%) and 2 (27.5%) were found in this population. The mean eGFR was 112.