Through monthly monitorization of alanine amino transferase (ALT) in hemodialysis patients and serological tests for exclusion of HA V (hepatitis A virus), HBV(hepatitis B virus), CMV (cytomegalovirus) and EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) infections, it was possible to identify 11 cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis among 111 individuals evaluated in a period of 12 months and followed-up for 2 years. Three patterns of ALT activity were observed: an elevation in monophasic peak in 2 patients, biphasic andpolyphasic in 6 patients and elevation in plateau in three others. Patients with the monophasic pattern showed the most elevated levels of ALT. Five patients showed biochemical normalization within approximately 4.8 months after the beginning of acute elevation and 6 evolved with chronic intermittent elevation during the period of study. Hepatitis non-A, non-B was predominantly asymptomatic and anicteric, always preceeded by blood tranfusions and with higher incidence in the 6 first months after hemodialysis.
Non-A Non-B Hepatitis; Hemodialysis; Blood transfusion