Hepatitis C virus reactivation in anti-hepatitic C virus-positive renal transplant recipients.
From 1992 to 2001 hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia was studied in 53 renal transplant recipients anti-HCV+ with at least 3 months follow-up posttransplant using a quantitative retrotranscriptase-PCR method. HCV-RNA was detected in 45 (85%): 29 of the 34 recipients treated with azathioprine-based therapy and 15 of 18 treated with mycophenolate mofetil. Immunosuppressive therapy type did not affect HCV replication. Three different patterns of HCV-RNA evolution were detected: 13 (28.8%) patients with high RNA-HCV levels; 21 (46.7%) patients with low levels; and 11 (24.4%) patients with viremia elevation. In 10 (90%) of 11 of the last group, HCV viremia was detected before 15 days posttransplantation, significantly earlier than in the other two groups. Thus, replication during the first 15 days after transplantation leads to a high RNA-HCV viral load. No clinical symptoms were related to HCV.
Melon
S
S
Department of Virology-Microbiology, Hospital Universitaria Central de Asturias, Celestino Villamil, s/n, Oviedo, Asturias 33006, Spain. santiago.melon@sespa.princast.es
Galarraga
M C
MC
Villar
M
M
Laures
A
A
Boga
J A
JA
de Oña
M
M
Gomez
E
E
D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019562:Viral Load; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral