Spontaneous Negative Seroconversion of Both Hepatitis B and C in an Egyptian HD Patient

Background: Hepatitis b virus infection (HBV) was recognized as an important hazard for patients and staff in Hemodialysis Units (HDU), and this issue was first recognized in the 1960s with a set of guidelines for the control of HBV in HDU. HCV is a blood-borne infection and is the most significant cause of viral hepatitis which is mainly transmitted by blood transfusion. Thus, it is reasonable to perform initial screening for HCV in HD patients. Patients admitted or re-admitted to an HD unit are recommended to be tested for HBsAg, HCV, and HIV antibodies and to be followed up monthly or at least every three months after admission to HDU.

We aim to present this case of spontaneous clearance of HBV and HCV positive after being positive for more than twelve years on HD.

Case Presentation: A 66 years old Egyptian male patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) from Alexandria had started HD 14 years ago while he tested positive for HCV-Ab and HBs Ag positive, although fared well with normal liver function, while the source of infection was not known. HCV-Ab turned into seronegativity after twelve years on HD. Astonishingly, after 13 years on HD; the test of HBs Ag became negative and hepatitis B surface antibody appears by Elisa testing. This was noticed or observed following the implementation of quality enhancement of the HD parameters in most of the HD services provided units according to the regulations of Ministry of Health (MOH), and this was accompanied by better anemia and more frequent utilization of high flux dialysis with a consequent reduction to the need for blood transfusion in the last four years. Previous publications advocated hypothetical mechanisms of HCV clearance during the process of HD: namely, filtration of the virus particles through the pores of the dialysis membrane and or their adsorption to the HD membrane. These welcome spontaneous clearances of the HBV and HCV in this patient could be attributable to the improvement of anemia state and use of high flux dialysis that might have improved the immunity of this patient.

Conclusion: Spontaneous clearance of HBV and HCV could potentially possible and could benefit from the improvement of both patients and HD states that could enhance the immune system or mechanical entrapment of the virus particles. Suggestions need further studies for confirmation.