title: An assessment of interactions between hepatitis C virus and herpesvirus reactivation in liver transplant recipients using molecular surveillance.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been proposed to have immunomodulatory effects in transplant recipients and may promote herpesvirus reactivation. To assess this, we compared the incidence of herpesvirus reactivation in HCV-positive and HCV-negative liver transplant recipients. Quantitative viral load testing was performed at regular intervals posttransplantation for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesviruses (HHV) 6, 7, and 8, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in 177 liver transplant patients who were HCV-positive (n=60) or HCV-negative (n=117). The incidence of CMV disease, CMV viremia, and the peak CMV viral load was not significantly different in HCV-positive vs. HCV-negative patients. Similarly, no differences in HHV-6 or EBV reactivation were observed. HHV-8 or VZV viremia was not detected in any patient in the study. A lower incidence of HHV-7 infection occurred in HCV-positive patients vs. HCV-negative patients (47.6% vs. 72.7%; P=0.006). In conclusion, these results suggest that HCV infection does not appear to promote herpesvirus reactivation after liver transplantation.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. ahumar@ualberta.ca
authors: Atul
authors: A
authors: Humar
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Washburn
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Freeman
authors: Carlos V
authors: CV
authors: Paya
authors: Houria
authors: H
authors: Mouas
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Alecock
authors: Raymund R
authors: RR
authors: Razonable
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies