Antibodies against hepatitis C virus among renal transplant patients in Greece.
To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Greek renal transplant (RT) patients and its association with abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), serum anti-HCV was determined (Ortho-ELISA test system) in 206 RT and 245 haemodialysis patients (HD) as controls. The prevalence (10.2%) of anti-HCV in RT patients was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the Greek general population (0.7%) and lower (P < 0.0001) than in the HD patients (23.8%), and was not related to the patients' age, post-transplant time or pre-transplant HD time. None of the anti-HCV RT patients was HBsAg+, whereas 13 (62%) and 12 (57%) of them were anti-HBsAg+ and anti-HBc+, respectively. The incidence of abnormal LFTs in anti-HCV+ HBsAg- and anti-HCV- HBsAg+ RT patients was similar. Our findings indicate that: (a) the prevalence of serum anti-HCV in the Greek RT population is high, although considerably lower than in HD pts; (b) anti-HCV+ RT patients have a high incidence of abnormal LFTs, comparable to that seen in HBsAg+ RT patients; and (c) in a substantial proportion of anti-HCV+ RT patients there is evidence of previous HBV infection.
Boletis
J
J
Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Stathakis
C
C
Papastathi
H
H
Vafiadi
I
I
Goumenos
D
D
Miriagou
B
B
Hatzakis
A
A
Kostakis
A
A
Vosnides
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents