TITLE:
Prevalence and Determinants of Kidney Markers among Subjects with Hepatitis C Virus Infection
AUTHORS:
Mathurin Pierre Kowo, Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou, Murielle Sonia Mehly Ngninzeko, Firmin Ankouane Andoulo, Antonin Ndjitoyap Ndam, Michelle Tagny Sartre, Vicky Ama Moor, Jeanne Ngongang, François Folefack Kaze
KEYWORDS:
Hepatitis C Virus, Chronic Kidney Disease, Prevalence, Sub-Saharan Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nephrology,
Vol.10 No.2,
April
21,
2020
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 2 was defined as low and reduced respectively. Albuminuria was defined by an ACR > 30 mg/g and divided into A1 (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 112.9 ± 31.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 with 14 (21.5%) and 4 (6.2%) patients having reduced and low eGFR respectively. Albuminuria (80%), leukocyturia (24.6%) and hematuria (4.6%) were the observed dipstick abnormalities. Median albuminuria (IQR) was 542.4 (238.7 - 961.5) mg/g, with 7 (11%), 12 (18%) and 46 (71%) patients in A1, A2 and A3 respectively. Reduced/low eGFR and albuminuria were observed in 58 (89.2%) patients while low eGFR and albuminuria were found in 55 (84.6%) patients. Advanced age, female gender, HCV genotype 1 and 4, and albuminuria (all p Conclusion: Renal abnormalities are common in HCV infected patients leading by proteinuria and decreased eGFR. Known risk factors of kidney diseases, HCV genotype 1 and 4 and albuminuria were associated with eGFR reduction in our setting.