Antibodies against hepatitis C virus among renal transplant patients in Greece

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a significant health concern, particularly in immunocompromised populations like renal transplant recipients.
• Understanding HCV prevalence and its impact on liver function is crucial for managing patients post-transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of HCV infection among Greek renal transplant (RT) patients.
• To investigate the association between HCV infection and abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in RT patients.
• To assess the co-infection or prior infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HCV-positive RT patients.

Main Methods:

• Serum anti-HCV antibodies were measured using the Ortho-ELISA test system in 206 RT patients and 245 haemodialysis (HD) patients (controls).
• Prevalence rates were compared between RT patients, HD patients, and the general Greek population.
• LFTs and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBsAg, and anti-HBc antibodies were assessed in RT patients.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of anti-HCV in RT patients was 10.2%, significantly higher than the general population (0.7%) but lower than HD patients (23.8%).
• HCV prevalence was not correlated with patient age, post-transplant duration, or pre-transplant HD time.
• Anti-HCV positive RT patients exhibited a high incidence of abnormal LFTs, similar to HBsAg positive patients, and a substantial proportion showed evidence of prior HBV infection.

Conclusions:

• HCV infection is highly prevalent in Greek renal transplant recipients, necessitating targeted screening and management strategies.
• HCV-positive RT patients frequently present with abnormal liver function, highlighting the risk of liver disease progression.
• A significant number of HCV-positive RT patients have a history of HBV infection, underscoring the importance of assessing both viral markers.