[Hepatitis C virus infection in renal-transplant patients]

Nephrologie. 2004;25(1):9-15.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the first cause of liver disease after renal transplantation. The prevalence of HCV infection in dialysis and in renal-transplant patients remains high. Mortality of HCV-positive renal-transplant patients is higher than that of HCV-negative ones. Liver disease and sepsis seem to be the main causes of death. Graft survival is also lower in HCV-positive renal-transplant patients. This seems to be due in part to the occurrence of de novo glomerulopathy. The effect of HCV infection upon liver fibrosis in renal-transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment remains controversial. To date, there is no efficient treatment of HCV infection after renal transplantation. Consequently, it is mandatory to treat by alpha-interferon all HCV-positive/RNA-positive dialysis patients waiting for renal transplantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Graft Survival
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / pathology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / transmission
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / surgery
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / mortality
  • Liver Failure / etiology
  • Liver Failure / mortality
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects
  • Sepsis / etiology
  • Sepsis / mortality
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Viremia / complications
  • Viremia / drug therapy
  • Viremia / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents