title: A study on the biochemical and the morphological changes in the liver in renal transplant recipients with an evidence of the HBV and the HCV infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal transplantation is the definitive treatment in renal failure patients. Liver disease is a known problem in renal transplant recipients. They may be consequent to immunosuppression, drug toxicity, altered immune response to viruses and hemodialysis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze and correlate the biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver biopsy among renal transplant recipients with both HBV and HCV infection and to correlate them.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group had thirty cases. Enrolment criteria included coinfection with HBV and HCV ; elevated liver enzymes and recipient of renal allograft. There was acontrol group of ten patients who were HBC and HCV positive but had not undergone renal transplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver function tests including alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, SGPT and serum bilirubin levels were donet. Percutaneous liver biopsies were carried out using Menghini's needle.. Stains done included hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), vanGieson, reticulin and Perl's stain. Histopathological grading was performed using Metavir scoring system. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done where required for ground glass hepatocytes. Correlation of SGOT, SGPT and Alkaline phosphatase of the study group and the controls was carried out with the grading.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical tests done included paired "t" test at 5% and test of probability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant correlation between the controls and the transplanted patients. It was concluded that serum enzyme levels could be used to predict histological grade in the control group but not in the transplant recipients (p>0.05).
authors: Assisstant Professor, Department of Pathology, Army College of Medical Sciences , Delhi Cantt, India .
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: Anshu
authors: A
authors: Gupta
authors: Shivani
authors: S
authors: Kalhan
authors: Sharmila
authors: S
authors: Dudani
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Sharma
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Devra
keywords: Hepatitis B & C; Liver biopsy; kidney transplant