Long-Term Impact in Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Post Renal Transplantation

Purpose: The authors have evaluated the impact of the kidney transplantation associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, analyzing the complications, patients and graft survival. Methods: Retrospective study with 40 kidney transplant recipients with HCV infection and 40 kidney transplant recipients without HCV infection in the same post transplantation period. Results: The average follow-up after transplantation was 12.3 ± 4.5 years in patients with HCV infection and 12.5 ± 2.9 years in patients without HCV infection (p = 0.49). There was no statistical difference related to age and gender of the recipient nor donor age and type. The current renal function in patients with HCV infection was 47.3 ± 24.9 mL/min and 54.9 ± 27.2 mL/min in the HCV negative group (p = 0.54). The incidence of graft and patient survival was similar in both groups. The main cause of death in both groups was bacterial infection (10% in patients with HCV infection and 12.5% in HCV negative patients (p = 0.63). The most common complication in the two groups were acute allograft rejection and bacterial infection. The incidence of diabetes mellitus did not differ statistically in both groups. Abnormal liver enzymes levels and cirrhosis were observed only in patients with HCV infection. Conclusion: HCV infection did not impact patient or graft survival and post-transplant complications were similar in both groups during a mean follow-up period of 12 years.