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Abstract

Objectives: Studies have demonstrated worse graft and patient survival among hepatitis C viruspositive patients following kidney transplant. Eradication of hepatitis C virus infection before renal transplant with interferon should be considered in hepatitis C virus-infected patients undergoing dialysis who are on the waiting list for transplant. We investigated whether pretransplant hepatitis C virus infection treatment affected graft and patient survival, and we evaluated other contributing factors to these outcomes. There were 14 of 28 patients (50%) who achieved sustained virologic response, and only 1 patient had relapse. Graft survival was significantly lower in patients who had treatment (6 y vs 9 y; P ≤ .003). However, patient survival rates were similar between groups. Patients who had interferon were younger and had longer hemodialysis duration before renal transplant than patients without treatment. Higher viral load was associated with higher mortality which was caused by sepsis. Conclusions: Pretransplant hepatitis C virus infection treatment, although recommended before renal transplant, does not always have good outcomes. Pretransplant dialysis treatment period, age of recipient, and posttransplant higher viral replication rates may be important contributing factors related to graft and patient survival.