HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN LIVER ALLOGRAFT RECIPIENTS

The impact of HCV infection after liver transplantation remains a topi c of discussion. The aims of this study were to define the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in liver donors; the risk of acquired HCV infec tion and HCV re-infection according to the pre-transplant anti-HCV sta tus; the prevalence of HCV infection in post-transplant chronic hepati tis. Sera from 42 recipients with follow up longer than 6 months and t heir donors were tested for anti-HCV. By results at pretransplant time patients were classified as follows: donor (D) negative and recipient (R) negative (D-/R-) 31; D-/R+ 9; D+/R- 2; D+/R+ 1. Twenty-one patien ts with sustained hepatic dysfunction underwent liver biopsy. In group D-IR-, 5 patients showed anti-HCV positivity and 3 (9.7%) of them had acquired HCV hepatitis. In group D-/R+, 6 patients showed persistent anti-HCV positivity and 4 (44.4%) of them had recurrent HCV hepatitis; of these 2 died due to liver failure. The 2 patients of groups D+/R- and D+/R+ had normal liver function. Anti-HCV negative hepatitis was f ound in 2 patients. The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in liver don ors appeared low (3.2%). Acquired HCV infection rate was 9.7%. Pre-tra nsplant HCV infection led to a high incidence of recurrence (44.4%). H CV was the major etiological agent in post-transplant chronic hepatiti s (77.8%).