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.
Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan Republic of China. tihuo@vghtpe.gov.tw
T I
TI
Huo
W C
WC
Yang
J C
JC
Wu
K L
KL
King
C Y
CY
Lin
C C
CC
Loong
W Y
WY
Lui
F Y
FY
Chang
S D
SD
Lee
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