[Incidence of hepatitis C virus in kidney transplantation recipients]

The investigation was carried on 122 waiting renal transplantation hospitalized patients. Detection of HCV antibodies was done before transplantation and after renal transplantation. HCV antibodies were detected by immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for C 100-3 protein of HC virus (Lab. ORTHO). Positive results were checked by a second test (immunoblot RIBA II) to detect antibodies against C100-3, 5-1-1, C33, C22 proteins of HCV genome. Before transplantation, 112 patients were negative and 10 positive. After transplantation, 104 were checked: 103 had identical serology (93- and 10+); only one patient has shown a seroconversion six months after the transplantation, demonstrating the late apparition of HCV antibodies, but immunological status of donor was unknown. Renal transplantation does not seem a risk factor of HCV contamination: only 1 seroconversion on 122 patients or 0.8%: near percentage of French blood donors (0.68%). The percentage of positivity HCV before transplantation (9%) answered with that of European hemophils (5 to 20%). Second generation tests demonstrate a better sensibility and specificity than the first.