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A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
Impact of hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients
A S Narula1, A Hooda, A C Anand
1Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411 040, India. narulaas@gmail.com
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection negatively impacts renal transplant outcomes. Patients with HCV infection experienced shorter graft and patient survival, with infections being the leading cause of death.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Hepatology
- Transplant Surgery
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on renal transplant success remains debated.
- Assessing HCV's impact on graft and patient survival is crucial for transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on renal allograft recipient survival.
- To compare graft and patient survival rates between HCV-positive and HCV-negative renal transplant patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for 126 renal allograft recipients transplanted between 1990 and 2004.
- Patients categorized into anti-HCV antibody positive and negative groups.
- Graft and patient survival durations were compared between the two groups.
Main Results:
- Anti-HCV negative patients had longer mean survival (55 months) than anti-HCV positive patients (50 months).
- Mortality rate was higher in the anti-HCV positive group (22.8%) compared to the negative group (15.3%).
- Infections were the primary cause of death in HCV-positive recipients (5/8), followed by liver failure (3/8).
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis C virus infection is a significant negative prognostic indicator for both patient and graft survival in renal transplant recipients.
- Infections represent the most frequent cause of mortality among renal transplant recipients, particularly those with HCV.
Objectives:
The impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the success of renal transplant is controversial. We assessed the effect of HCV infection on graft and patient survival in renal allograft recipients.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed medical records of renal allograft recipients who were transplanted between June 1990 and March 2004. Patients were divided into those positive and negative for anti-HCV antibody. Graft and patient survival were compared between the groups.
Results:
Of 126 patients studied (median age 34.5 years, range, 16-60; 111 men), 35 were positive for anti-HCV antibody. In seven patients, the antibodies were detected for the first time after renal transplant. Mean patient and graft survival duration in the anti-HCV negative group was longer (55 [SD 2] months [95% CI, 51-58]) than in the anti-HCV positive group (50 [SD 4] months [95% CI, 43-58]) (p< 0.05). Twenty-two patients died - 8 (22.8%) in the anti-HCV positive group and 14 (15.3%) in the negative group. In the anti-HCV positive group, infections were the cause of death in 5 patients and 3 patients died of liver cell failure. In the anti-HCV negative group, corresponding figures were 13 and one.
Conclusion:
HCV infection is a bad prognostic indicator for patient and graft survival duration in renal transplant recipients. Infections are the commonest cause of death in renal transplant recipients.
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