Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been a significant problem for hemodialysis patients. However this infection has declined in regions where the screening for anti-HCV in blood banks and hemodialysis-specific infection control measures were adopted. In Brazil, these measures were implemented in 1993 and 1996, respectively. In addition, all studied units have implemented isolation of anti-HCV positive patients since 2000. In order to evaluate the impact of these policies in the HCV infection prevalence, accumulated incidence, and risk factors in hemodialysis population of Goiânia City, Central Brazil, all patients were interviewed and serum samples tested for HCV antibodies in 1993, 1996, 1999, and 2002. In the first six years (1993-1999), anti-HCV prevalence increased from 28.2 to 37.2%, however a b decrease in positivity was detected between 1999 and 2002 (37.8 vs 16.5%) when the measures were fully implemented. Also, a decrease of the anti-HCV accumulated incidence in cohorts of susceptible individuals during 1993-2002 (71%), 1996-2002 (34.2%), and 1999-2002 (11.7%) was found. Analysis of risk factors showed that length of time on hemodialysis, blood transfusion before screening for anti-HCV and treatment in multiple units were statistically associated with anti-HCV (p < 0.05). Our study showed a significant decline of hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients of Central Brazil, ratifying the importance of public health strategies for control and prevention of hepatitis C in the hemodialysis units.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo randomizado, controlado e "cego" para investigar se a dose terapêutica de ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS), usado por mulheres grávidas, pode causar efeito tóxico ao embrião ou anormalidades congênitas nos animais de experimentação. MÉTODOS: Foi confirmada a prenhez das fêmeas através da observação da presença de espermatozóides no esfregaço vaginal (1º dia de prenhez - GD1). As ratas acasaladas foram colocadas em gaiolas individualizadas e divididas aleatoriamente para compor os grupos experimentais. Os animais receberam 50 mg/kg/dia de AAS, por via oral (gavage), durante dois períodos diferentes de prenhez. Um grupo de ratas (n=11) recebeu aspirina do 1º ao 4º dia de prenhez (antes de implantação embrionária) para avaliação dos blastocistos, e outro grupo recebeu aspirina do 6º ao 15º dia (período de organogênese) para avaliação fetal. Os grupos controle (n=12) receberam água destilada com mesmo volume e durante os mesmos períodos, semelhante aos respectivos grupos experimentais. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento de ratas prenhes com AAS, de acordo com dose terapêutica mínima usada por mulheres, não causou efeitos embriotóxicos ou malformações maiores, mas foi responsável pelo aumento das taxas de fetos com dilatação de ureter. Pode ser verificada uma divergência muito grande entre os dados obtidos experimentalmente e em humano, mas não há ainda uma evidência conclusiva dos efeitos adversos em humanos. Existe uma dose de perigo potencial, portanto o uso indiscriminado de ácido de acetilsalicílico (aspirina) é contra-indicado.

The aim of this paper was to perform a randomized, controlled and blinded study to investigate if a therapeutic dose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), taken by pregnant women, may also cause embryotoxic or congenital abnormalities on experimental animal. METHODS: Females were confirmed to have mated by observations of sperm in a vaginal smear. The day on which spermatozoa were found in the vaginal smear was considered as day 1 of gestation (GD1). After randomization, mated females were assigned to experimental groups and individually caged, were given 50 mg/kg/day of acetylsalicylic acid, by needle gavage once daily, during two different periods of pregnancy. One group of dams (n=11) received aspirin from day 1 to 4 of pregnancy (before embryonic implantation) for evaluation of the blastocysts, and another group received aspirin from day 6 to 15 of pregnancy (organogenic period) for fetal evaluation. Control groups (n=12) received distilled water in same volume and during same periods as their respective experimental groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The treatment of the dams with ASA, according to minimal therapeutic dose used for humans, did not cause embryotoxic or major malformations on experimental animal but was responsible for rate increased of fetuses presenting ureteric dilatation. After analysis of the data, it appears that, although direct conclusive evidence of adverse effects in humans is lacking, a potential hazard dose exists and thus the indiscriminate use of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is contraindicated.

Um estudo soroepidemiológico para anticorpo do vírus da hepatite C (anti-VHC) foi realizado na população em diálise de Goiânia ,com objetivo de avaliar a soroprevalência do vírus e sua associação com possíveis fatores de risco. Foram estudados 173 pacientes com idade variando de 1070 anos, 35,3% (61/173) apresentaram soropositividade pelo ELISA de segunda geração e 25% (44/173) pelo INNO-LIA.Uso de drogas, hábitos sexuais, número de transfusões e atividade de transaminases não apresentaram relação significativa com a soropositividade. A permanência no tratamento e o uso da hemodiálise apresentaram correlação positiva com o anti-VHC (p < 0,05).Os dados sugerem que a hepatite C tem alta prevalência nos pacientes em hemodiálise e que o tempo em tratamento é um fator de risco para adquirir a infecção.

A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of HCV among dialysis population in Goiânia and its association with possible risk factors. The patients were 173, aged 10 to 70 years old. An Elisa II test was undertaken and 61 of 173 (35.3%) had positive test; when INNO-LIA test was made, soropositivity was 26% (44/173). Patients with anti-VHC antibodies have been kept on hemodialysis treatment for periods longer than negatives (p < 0.05). Neither drugs users, blood transfusions, sexual and aminotransferase activity were significantly correlated with the infection. There is an elevated prevalence of anti-VHC antibodies among chronic hemodialysis patients which seems to be related to the time that patients are on dialysis treatment.