Epidemiological and clinical implications in Kidney Transplantation of occult Hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

Occult Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OCI) is characterized by the presence of HCV-RNA in liver or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the absence of serological markers. HCV infection in kidney transplant (KT) recipients is associated with lower patient and graft survival. However, the relationship between KT outcome and OCI is unknown. Our aim was to determine in KT recipients the prevalence, risk factors for OCI, and its prognostic implications. We tested 149 adults KT recipients for the presence of OCI.