title: Brief communication: Glomerulonephritis in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) frequently develop renal failure after liver transplantation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe renal histologic characteristics and concomitant clinical features in HCV-infected patients with end-stage cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center liver transplant program in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients who received liver transplants for HCV-induced cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kidney biopsy during liver engraftment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data and laboratory tests of renal function within 6 months before liver transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients had immune-complex glomerulonephritis: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type 1 (n = 12), IgA nephropathy (n = 7), and mesangial glomerulonephritis (n = 6). Of these patients, 10 had normal serum creatinine levels, normal urinalysis results, and normal quantitative proteinuria. For 5 others, the only renal abnormality was an increased serum creatinine level. No patient had cryoglobulins in the blood or kidney.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This small observational study did not include patients with nonviral cirrhosis and did not document post-transplantation outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immune-complex glomerulonephritis was common in patients with end-stage HCV-induced cirrhosis and was often clinically silent. Its potential to cause renal failure after liver transplantation may be underappreciated.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0005, USA. bmcguire@uab.edu
authors.forename: Brendan M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: J Steve
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bynon
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Accortt
authors.forename: Devin E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Eckhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*