Outcome of renal allograft in turkish patients with pretransplantation hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the long-term survival of renal transplant recipients. Methods Outcomes and survivals amongs 325 patients who received renal allografts from July 1991 to September 2005 were compared between those known to have pretransplantation HCV infection (Group I, HCV+ group, n = 33) versus a matched cohort of those without this infection (Group II, HCV− control group, n = 33). Allograft performance, liver function, cholesterol, and glucose levels were determined both at transplantation and at a mean of postgrafting year 8. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical method was used for multivariate analysis. Results Thirty-three patients (10.15%, 19 women and 14 men) were positive for HCV antibody. The mean follow-up period was 8 years (range, 0.5–14 years). The mean survival rates were similar in Groups I and II (96.6% and, 100%, respectively). Although the allograft survival rate was lower in Group I (84.8% vs 90.9%), the rejection rate among the HCV− group was 6%; only 1 patient died of hepatic failure. In spite of a significant rise in both total and direct bilirubin values ( P Conclusions Chronic HCV infection before transplantation did not have a significant impact on graft survival or mortality compared with noninfected patients.