Long-term outcome of kidney transplantation in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
The impact of HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection on the long-term outcome of kidney transplant patients is controversial.


METHODS
Eighty-four renal allograft recipients who were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen and had been screened for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were included. The outcome and survival were compared between anti-HCV-positive (n = 30, group 1) and anti-HCV-negative (n = 54, group 2) kidney transplant patients. Group 1 patients were further compared to 52 anti-HCV-positive end-stage renal disease patients (group 3) who were on chronic dialysis.


RESULTS
Group 1 patients had a higher prevalence of chronic hepatitis than group 2 and group 3 patients did (67% vs. 2% and 31%). Liver-related complications and deaths between group 1 and group 2, and group 1 and group 3 patients were not significantly different. The comparisons of the long-term survival between these groups showed no significant differences, despite group 3 patients had a higher overall mortality rate. Cox regression analysis confirmed that age more than 45 years was the only independent factor that affected survival in anti-HCV-positive end-stage renal disease patients with or without kidney transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV infection is not a contraindication to kidney transplantation. For anti-HCV-positive end stage renal disease patients, survival is better in younger patients, and is not influenced by kidney transplantation or continuing dialysis.
Huo
T I
TI
Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan Republic of China. tihuo@vghtpe.gov.tw
Yang
W C
WC
Wu
J C
JC
King
K L
KL
Lin
C Y
CY
Loong
C C
CC
Lui
W Y
WY
Chang
F Y
FY
Lee
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents