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A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
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Hepatitis C virus infection and kidney disease: a meta-analysis

Fabrizio Fabrizi1, Paul Martin, Vivek Dixit

  • 1Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy. fabrizi@policlinico.mi.it

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN
|March 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to proteinuria but not reduced kidney function in the general population. This meta-analysis clarifies the association between HCV and kidney disease outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Hepatology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and kidney disease are prevalent global health issues.
  • Previous research suggests a link between HCV and glomerulonephritis (GN), but the broader association with kidney disease remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between HCV infection and kidney disease in the general population.
  • To determine if HCV seropositive status increases the risk of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or proteinuria.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of published medical literature was performed.
  • A random-effects model was employed to pool data from nine clinical studies involving 817,917 individuals.
  • Kidney disease was defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m² or the presence of proteinuria.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between HCV seropositive status and reduced eGFR (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.12; P=0.28).
  • HCV seropositive status was independently and significantly associated with proteinuria (aRR, 1.47; P=0.006).
  • Significant heterogeneity was observed across the included studies (I²=0.82).

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C virus infection is independently associated with an increased risk of proteinuria.
  • HCV infection is not associated with reduced kidney function (eGFR) in the general population.
  • Substantial heterogeneity among studies warrants cautious interpretation of findings.
Abstract

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