High rate of infection and immune disorders in patients with hepatitis C virus after liver transplantation.
The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the incidence of serious infections and changes in immunological markers after liver transplantation (LT) in a cohort of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study included 34 patients who had LT, 20 patients with HCV etiology (HCV group), and 14 patients with alcoholic etiology (non-HCV group). Patients with HCV were more likely to have severe infections (80%) in comparison with patients in the non-HCV group (42%) (P=0.05). The HCV group had a 3-fold greater likelihood of early severe bacterial infections than the non-HCV group. At 1 week post LT, the HCV group showed higher values of CD19+ B cells/microL than the non-HCV group (P<0.05). At weeks 4 and 12 post LT, the HCV group had lower values of CD19+ B cells/microL (P<0.05). Our data suggest that HCV recurrence after LT was associated with a high incidence of early severe infections and immunological alterations, which may be related to this increased risk.
Micheloud
D
D
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. michelouddary@yahoo.es
Salcedo
M
M
Bañares
R
R
Rincón
D
D
Jensen
J
J
Rodríguez
J J
JJ
Fernández-Cruz
E
E
Carbone Campoverde
J
J
Resino
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D018941:Antigens, CD19