title: Kidney transplantation from donors with viral B and C hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success of renal transplantation as a treatment for end-stage renal disease has created a chronic shortage of donor organs. We present our experience in transplanting kidneys from donors with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) among matched serology-positive recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to November 2005, 44 patients with end-stage renal disease and HCV seropositivity underwent kidney transplantation. In 28 transplants in HCV+ recipients, the donor was HCV+ (DC+/RC+) and in 16 of these cases the donor (one living donor) was HCV- (DC-/RC+). In the same period 14 patients with HBV infection and HbsAg seropositivity underwent kidney transplantation: eight received their graft from a cadaveric HbsAg-positive donor (DB+/RB+), while six patients received their graft from an HbsAg-negative donor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral reactivation was higher among DC+/RC+ (21.4%) than DC-/RC+ patients (6%). Graft survivals were 90% and 88% for DC+/RC+ and DC-/RC+, respectively; patient survivals were 100% for DC+/RC+ and 94% for DC-/RC+. Among the group of DB+/RB+, all the patients developed an HBV-DNA positivity in the early postoperative period. Patient and graft survivals were 100% in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that HBV- and HCV-positive donors can be considered as an alternative donor source, because their kidneys are allocated to the matched serology-positive recipients, shortening their time on the waiting list.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, Organ Transplant Unit, University Hospital, Catania, Italy. veroux@unict.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sparacino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puliatti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macarone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiamingo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagliano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spataro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Mare
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Severino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral