Hepatitis C virus and renal transplantation.
During the past 12 months additional evidence has emerged from several studies, indicating that hepatitis C virus infection is the most important liver disease after renal transplantation. A new, severe and rare entity called fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis can lead to early liver failure, although the most important complications appeared in the long-run. Encouraging results with ribavirin have been described. Although glomerular lesions and more severe infections can appear in hepatitis C virus patients, graft and patient survival rates in most series are similar to those in hepatitis-C-negative patients. Survival is also better among hepatitis-C-positive patients after renal transplantation than in hepatitis-C-positive patients on dialysis on the waiting list for transplantation. Finally, the use of kidneys from hepatitis-C-positive donors is suggested for transplant into hepatitis C RNA positive patients matching the hepatitis C genotype.
Morales
J M
JM
Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Campistol
J M
JM
Andrés
A
A
Rodicio
J L
JL
D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014019:Tissue Donors