title: Study of intercurrent infection pattern in hepatitis C seropositive renal transplant recipients, relationship with T-cell function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the effect of hepatitis C seropositivity on the percentage of various T-cells in living donor renal transplant recipients (LDRTRs) and their association with intercurrent infections post renal transplantation (post-Tx).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-three matching LDRTRs [A (seronegative) (68 patients) and B (seropositive) (65 patients) by ELISA] were studied prospectively 10 days, 6 months and 12 months post-Tx for intercurrent infections, acute rejection and T-cell% by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4/CD8 were significantly higher 10 days post-Tx in Group B compared to Group A, p < 0.001. A significant increase in CD8% was seen 6-month post-Tx among Group B compared to Group A. No difference was detected between groups in (CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4/CD8, CD3-CD16/65(+)%), rate and severity of intercurrent infection, rate of acute rejection, 12 months post-Tx. A significantly higher rate of severe infections particularly urinary tract infections (UTI) was noted in Group B compared to Group A the first 3 months post-Tx particularly in those who received the combination of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or basiliximab, tacrolimus, steroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). CD4(+)% correlated negatively with intercurrent infections in Group B 6 months post-Tx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV(+) patients are more prone to intercurrent infections the first 3 months post-Tx. Infection rate correlates positively with pre-transplant HCV seropositivity and immunosuppressive regimen.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Heba W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: El Said
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Dawlat H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sany
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Pathology , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Afaf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mostafa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077552:Basiliximab; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002648:Child; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: HCV; T cells; immunosuppressive therapy; intercurrent infection; renal transplantation