Is there a higher risk of a complicated course of hepatitis A in kidney transplant patients?

Background: We describe a patient who was planned to receive a kidney transplant from his wife. Both were infected with Hepatitis A virus (HAV) two weeks prior to the planned transplantation. Due to prolonged shedding of HAV (up until 126 days) we decided to postpone the kidney transplant in order to prevent long term complications.

Objectives: The main question in this case was is there a higher risk of a complicated course of HAV-infection after kidney transplantation? We discuss the need for upscale of preventative measures of HAV infections in solid organ transplant candidates.

Study design: We performed a literature study on risks of a complicated course of HAV in solid organ transplant recipients and performed a seroprevalence study on anti-HAV in a cohort of 106 hemodialysis patients.

Results: Little is known whether HAV infection in solid organ transplant patients causes a more aggressive course of diseases. However, HAV infections in these populations are associated with increased risk of liver failure.

Conclusions: This case highlights the need of scaling up preventative measures against HAV infections in solid organ transplant candidates.