Background: This study aims to investigate a possible association of aneurysm of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 179 HD patients with AVFs who were referred to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2010 were evaluated. Data including age, sex, duration of renal failure, number of operated fistulas, number of patients with aneurysmal fistulas and chronic HCV infection were recorded. Doppler ultrasonography was performed to determine AVF patency and aneurysm flow.

Results: Thirthy-three patients (group A) had aneurysm and 21 (group A1) of these patients had chronic HCV infection, while 12 (group A2) had no chronic HCV infection. Hundred and forty-six patients (group B) had no aneurysm. Of these patients, 15 (group B1) had chronic HCV infection, while 131 (group B2) had no chronic HCV infection. There were no statistical differences in age, sex, and duration of renal failure between the groups. The mean AVF flow was higher in group A1 (856±123 ml/min) compared to group A2 (560±98 ml/min) (p<0.05). The mean AVF flow was also higher in group B1 (536±54 ml/min) compared to group B2 (373±47 ml/min) (p<0.05). Criyoglobulinemia positivity was statistically significant in aneurysmal AVFs (group A1 and A2) than nonaneurysmal AVFs (group B1 and B2) (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that aneurysm of AVFs in maintenance HD patients was associated with chronic HCV infection.

Keywords : Aneurysm; arteriovenous fistula; hepatitis C virus