title: [The evolution of the hypervariable region-1 of hepatitis C virus may predict liver fibrosis outcome after renal transplantation].
abstract: The aim of our study was to assess hepatitis C virus (HCV) evolution and long term liver histology outcome in anti-HCV(+)/RNA(+) renal-transplant (RT) patients. Fifty-five anti-HCV(+)/RNA(+) RT patients underwent every 3-4 years after transplantation liver biopsies (LB) (2 LBs, N = 55; 3 LBs, N = 44; 4 LBs, N = 10). The hypervariable region (HVR)-1 of the HCV genome from all patients was characterized over time. Overall, the rate of liver fibrosis progression was 0.07 +/- 0.03 Metavir units/year. We identified three groups of patients: those in whom liver fibrosis remained stable (group I, N = 21), those with progressing liver fibrosis (group II, N = 21), and those with a regression in liver fibrosis (group III, N = 13). Initial fibrosis stage and high diversification of the HVR-1 of HCV genome between the transplantation and the first liver biopsy were independent factors associated with liver fibrosis regression. In conclusion, in this study, after renal transplantation, HCV infection is not harmful upon liver histology in more than fifty percent of the patients. The diversification of the HVR-1 of the HCV genome might be used to predict liver fibrosis outcome.
authors.affiliation: Service de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation, CHU de Toulouse-Rangueil, 1, TSA 50032, Toulouse, France. kamar.n@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamar
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rostaing
authors.forename: Janick
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selves
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandres-Saune
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alric
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; C400562:HVR1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D014764:Viral Proteins