Impact of hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the success of renal transplant is controversial. We assessed the effect of HCV infection on graft and patient survival in renal allograft recipients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of renal allograft recipients who were transplanted between June 1990 and March 2004. Patients were divided into those positive and negative for anti-HCV antibody. Graft and patient survival were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of 126 patients studied (median age 34.5 years, range, 16-60; 111 men), 35 were positive for anti-HCV antibody. In seven patients, the antibodies were detected for the first time after renal transplant. Mean patient and graft survival duration in the anti-HCV negative group was longer (55 [SD 2] months [95% CI, 51-58]) than in the anti-HCV positive group (50 [SD 4] months [95% CI, 43-58]) (p< 0.05). Twenty-two patients died - 8 (22.8%) in the anti-HCV positive group and 14 (15.3%) in the negative group. In the anti-HCV positive group, infections were the cause of death in 5 patients and 3 patients died of liver cell failure. In the anti-HCV negative group, corresponding figures were 13 and one. CONCLUSION: HCV infection is a bad prognostic indicator for patient and graft survival duration in renal transplant recipients. Infections are the commonest cause of death in renal transplant recipients.