Impaired renal allograft, but not patient survival, in patients with antibodies to hepatitis C virus

Background The impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in renal transplant patients is controversial and there are no data on the outcome of renal transplantation in this sub-group of Irish patients. Aim To examine the outcome of renal transplantation in patients with hepatitis C. Methods We examined the outcome of first grafts from renal transplant patients with hepatitis C antibody positive and compared them to a control group. During this period, 24 HCV positive patients received 33 grafts. All were treated with standard immunosuppression. Results Graft survival rate was less in the HCV positive cases (p=0.0087). Graft survival at 1 year was 75% in the HCV positive group versus 85% in the HCV negative group, 40% versus 62% at 5 years and 14% compared with 40% at 10 years. Patient survival was similar in both groups (p=0.78). Patient survival at 1 year was 96% versus 94%, 87% versus 80% at 5 years and 70% in both groups at 10 years. Conclusion In the Irish renal transplant population, the presence of hepatitis C antibodies, before or after transplantation is associated with worse long-term graft, but not patient survival.