Hepatitis C virus HCV Seroconversion after Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

HCV infection is a risk factor for graft loss and death in the long term with a higher rate of post-transplant complications. Egypt has the highest prevalence and seroconversion rate to HCV in the world especially among hemodialysis patients, yet the literature is poor in studies as regard HCV seroconversion after transplantation especially in our country. In our study we tried to illustrate the issue of the potential HCV seroconversion in renal transplantation patients as well as the impact of HCV and conversion on relevant biochemical markers. Our study sample consisted of 80 patients were on regular follow up at the renal transplantation outpatients clinic of Nasr city insurance hospital. They were divided into two groups, Group A (40 patients) HCV -ve before transplantation and Group B (40 patients) was HCV +ve before transplantation. All patients were subjected full history, kidney & liver functions, HCV antibodies by ELISA and PCR for HCV RNA for 10 patients selected randomly from each group. Results of the study demonstrated that HCV seroconversion from -ve to +ve was 22.5 % while there was no seroconversion from +ve to -ve.