INTRODUCTION: Because the disparity between the number of patients waiting for kidney transplants and the number of available cadaveric renal allografts continues to increase, there is a clear need to review the inclusion criteria for cadaveric donors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to March 2004, 24 patients with end-stage renal disease and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity underwent a kidney transplantation. In 10 transplants in HCV-positive recipients, the donor was HCV-positive (D+/R+) and in 14 cases the donor (1 living donor) was HCV-negative (D-/R+). RESULTS: Two of 3 HCV-RNA-negative recipients who received a HCV-RNA+ kidney became HCV-RNA+ in the posttransplantation period. There was a low rate of acute rejection (8.3%). One D+/R+ patient experienced an acute vascular rejection, which finally resulted in graft loss, due to the resurgence of severe infectious disease. The serum creatinine levels at 6 months posttransplantation were similar in both groups. Acute liver dysfunction was observed in 1 patient. There was no death in the entire series. Graft survival was 92% and 90% for D+/R+ and D-/R+, respectively.
INTRODUCTION: Because the disparity between the number of patients waiting for kidney transplants and the number of available cadaveric renal allografts continues to increase, there is a clear need to review the inclusion criteria for cadaveric donors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to March 2004, 24 patients with end-stage renal disease and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity underwent a kidney transplantation. In 10 transplants in HCV-positive recipients, the donor was HCV-positive (D+/R+) and in 14 cases the donor (1 living donor) was HCV-negative (D-/R+). RESULTS: Two of 3 HCV-RNA-negative recipients who received a HCV-RNA+ kidney became HCV-RNA+ in the posttransplantation period. There was a low rate of acute rejection (8.3%). One D+/R+ patient experienced an acute vascular rejection, which finally resulted in graft loss, due to the resurgence of severe infectious disease. The serum creatinine levels at 6 months posttransplantation were similar in both groups. Acute liver dysfunction was observed in 1 patient. There was no death in the entire series. Graft survival was 92% and 90% for D+/R+ and D-/R+, respectively.