The Impact of Hepatitis C virus infection on kidney Transplantation outcomes: A systematic review of 18 observational studies

authors:

avatar Zohreh Rostami 1 , * , avatar Mohammad Hossien Nourbala 2 , avatar Seyed Moayed Alavian 2 , avatar Fatemeh Bieraghdar 2 , avatar Yunes Jahani 2 , avatar Behzad Einollahi 2

Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, rostami@ijnu.ir, IR Iran
Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, IR Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 4; 247-254
article type: Review Article
received: April 26, 2010
accepted: February 28, 2011

how to cite: Rostami Z, Nourbala M, Alavian S, Bieraghdar F, Jahani Y, et al. The Impact of Hepatitis C virus infection on kidney Transplantation outcomes: A systematic review of 18 observational studies. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(4): 247-254. 

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection occursin 0% to 51% of dialysis patients, and manyHCV-positive patients are urged to undergo kidney transplantation. However, the outcome of renal transplantation in HCV-positive recipients is unknown.
Objectives: Our review aimed to address the outcomesof renal transplantation recipients (RTRs)following kidney transplantation.
Materials and Methods: We selected studies that used the adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% CI of all-cause mortality and graft loss in HCV-positive compared with HCV-negative RTRs as study endpoints. Cox proportional hazard analysis was usedin all studies to calculate the independent effects of HCV infection on RTR outcomes. Sixteen retrospective cohort studies and 2 clinical trials were selected for our review. Sixteen studies were related to patient survival, and 12 examined graft survival.
Results: The combined hazard ratio in HCV-infected recipients was 1.69-fold (1.33-1.97, p < 0.0001) and 1.56 times (1.22-2.004, p < 0.0001) greaterthan that of HCV-negative recipients for mortality and graft loss, respectively.
Conclusions: Although HCV-infected RTRs have worseoutcomes than HCV-negative RTRs,kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with HCV infection and end-stage renal disease.
Keywords: Hepatitis C infection; Kidney transplantation; Graft survival; Patient survival; Mortality; Natural history; Outcome assessment

  • Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
    HCV infection may negatively interfere on final outcomes of kidney transplantation. We strongly recommend reading this interesting article to all general practitioners, surgeons, nephrologists and urologists.
  • Please cite this paper as:
    Rostami Z, Nourbala MH, Alavian SM, Bieraghdar F, Jahani Y, Einollahi B. The impact of hepatitis C virus infection on kidney transplantation outcome: A systematic review of 18 observational studies. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(4):247-54.

© 2011 Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved.

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