Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity at the Time of Renal Transplantation in the United States: Associated Factors and Patient Survival

Abstract

National statistics for patient characteristics and survival of renal transplant recipients positive for hepatitis C virus (HCVπ 01 by log rank test). In Cox regression, mortality was higher for HCVπ (adjusted hazard ratio Ω 1.23, 95% confidence interval Ω 1.01-1.49, p Ω0.04). HCVπ recipients were more likely to be African-American, male, older, and to have received repeat transplants and donor HCVπ transplants. HCVπ recipients also had substantially longer waiting times for transplant. In contrast to recent studies, diabetes did not have an increased association with HCVπ , perhapsThe opinions are solely those of the authors and do not represent an endorsement by the Department of Defense. 179due to limitations of the database. HCVπ recipients had increased mortality and hospitalization rates compared with other transplant recipients.

Clinical significance of alanine aminotransferase levels and the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C

“…Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are on hemodialysis (HD) continue to have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection than the general population [1][2][3][4]. The prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity among patients undergoing regular dialysis in developed countries ranges between 7 and 40% [5][6][7][8].…”

Hepatitis C in the setting of kidney, heart, lung, and bone marrow transplants

“…In contrast to the previously mentioned study, there is another large epidemiologic study that also used the United States Renal Data System with 33,479 patients, from 1994 to 1997, that shows a 3-year increased all-cause mortality of 13% in HCV-positive patients versus 8.5% in HCV-negative patients (P < 0.01) [4]. The New England Organ Bank showed decreased survival among HCV-positive renal transplant patients when compared to their HCVnegative counterparts; however, renal transplantation did confer a survival benefit for these patients over HCV-positive patients who remained on dialysis.…”

“…The national prevalence of anti-HCV among renal transplant recipients was recently found to be 5.7% [4]. Risk factors in renal transplant patients for HCV infection include race, geographic origin of recipient, type and duration of dialysis before transplantation, number of blood transfusions, history of previous transplants, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [5].…”

Update on kidney transplantation for the urologist

“…As a result of segregation, universal precautions, vaccination, reduced blood transfusions, and screening of organs before transplantation, the incidence of HBV infection is approximately 0.08% and HCV is 5.7% in the US [7,8]. The prevalence of anti-HBV antibody in healthy volunteer blood donors is up to 6.3% and anti-HCV antibody was detected in approximately 5% of cadaveric organ donors.…”