Related Experiment Videos
Harmful long-term impact of hepatitis C virus infection in kidney transplant recipients
C Legendre1, V Garrigue, C Le Bihan
1Service de Transplantation, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection significantly reduces long-term survival in kidney transplant recipients. Patients with HCV antibodies faced higher mortality from liver disease and sepsis post-transplant.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Hepatology
- Transplantation Immunology
Background:
- Long-term impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on renal transplant recipients is debated.
- This study examines outcomes in 499 kidney transplant patients with extended follow-up.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term impact of HCV infection on patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation.
- To compare mortality causes between HCV-positive and HCV-negative renal transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 499 hepatitis B virus-negative kidney transplant recipients (1979-1994).
- Detection of anti-HCV antibodies at transplantation.
- Comparison of patient survival and causes of death between anti-HCV-positive and -negative groups.
Main Results:
- HCV-positive recipients had significantly shorter long-term patient (P<0.01) and graft (P<0.0001) survival.
- Increased mortality in HCV-positive patients was linked to liver disease (P<0.001) and sepsis (P<0.01).
- Multivariate analysis showed HCV infection significantly increased mortality risk (OR: 2.8).
Conclusions:
- HCV infection negatively impacts long-term survival in kidney transplant recipients.
- HCV poses a significant risk factor for mortality post-renal transplantation.
Background:
The long-term impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in renal transplant recipients remains controversial. We report here our experience, in a homogeneous single center, of 499 patients with a fairly long follow-up.
Methods:
We retrospectively studied 499 hepatitis B virus-negative patients who received an initial cadaver donor kidney transplantation at Necker Hospital between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1994, with a graft or patient survival of at least 6 months. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected at time of transplantation in 112 patients (22%). Patient survival and causes of death were compared among anti-HCV-positive and -negative patients
Results:
Our results clearly indicate that first cadaver kidney transplant recipients with anti-HCV antibodies had a significantly shorter patient and graft long-term survival than recipients without anti-HCV antibodies (P<0.01 and P<0.0001 respectively). Mean follow-up time after transplantation was 79+/-2 months in the former group and 81+/-5 months in the latter (NS). Increased mortality was primarily caused by liver disease (P<0.001) and sepsis (P<0.01). In a multivariate analysis, HCV infection significantly affected the mortality rate (odds ratio: 2.8).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that HCV infection has a harmful long-term impact on the survival of kidney transplant recipients.