Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Transplant Glomerulopathy in Hepatitis C Positive Compared to Hepatitis C Negative Patients after Renal Transplantation

S. Alexandru, A. Sevillano, L. Garcia-Puente, I. Bengoa, E. Gonzalez, M. Serrano, J. Martinez-Flores, A. Serrano, A. Andres, M. Martinez, J. Morales

Nephrology, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital. Instituto de Investigación, Madrid, Spain
Immunology, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital. Instituto de Investigación, Madrid, Spain
Pathology, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital. Instituto de Investigación, Madrid, Spain

Meeting: 2013 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D1673

It has been recently reported that transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is a pattern of pathological injury. Also, hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) has been associated with TG.

The aim of the present study is to describe the most important clinical findings and outcomes of patients diagnosed of TG with and without HCV infection.

We have analyzed clinical data of 38 renal transplant patients diagnosed of TG by electron microscopy, excluding patients with suggestive lesions of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Twenty one of them were diagnosed of HCV infection (all of them HCV RNA+).

Mean age at transplantation was 39.71±2.74 in HCV+ and 43.76±4.04 yr in HCV- patients (p=ns). A tendency to have more immunological risk was seen in HCV+ patients: 9/21 (43%) versus 6/17 (35%) were retransplanted and sensitized (p=ns). Acute rejection was more frequent in HCV+ patients without significant differences: 12/21 (57%) vs 5/17 (29%), respectively.

A trend to earlier diagnosis of TG, higher renal dysfunction and higher proteinuria in HCV+ patients was observed. Renal graft survival after the diagosis of TG was also a little bit lower in the HCV+ patients.

Table 1. Renal graft outcome in HCV+ comparated to HCV- patients with TG
	HCV+	HCV-	p
Mean age at transplantation (yr)	39.71±2.74	43.76±4.04	ns
Time of TG diagnosis after transplantation (yr)	5.52±0.74	6.94±1.18	ns
Mean of serum creatinine at the time of TG diagnosis (mg/dl)	2.68±0.37	2.16±0.15	ns
Mean of maximum 24-hours urine proteins (g)	4,47±0.87	3.75±0.56	ns
Immunological risk (retransplantation/sensitization)	43%	35%	ns
Acute rejection episodes	57%	29%	ns
Renal graft survival (yr)	6.9±0.82	7.38±1.06	ns

In summary, these data suggest that clinical presentation and outcomes of TG after transplantation seems to be similar in HCV+ compared to HCV negative patients.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Alexandru S, Sevillano A, Garcia-Puente L, Bengoa I, Gonzalez E, Serrano M, Martinez-Flores J, Serrano A, Andres A, Martinez M, Morales J. Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Transplant Glomerulopathy in Hepatitis C Positive Compared to Hepatitis C Negative Patients after Renal Transplantation [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2013; 13 (suppl 5). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/clinical-presentation-and-outcomes-of-transplant-glomerulopathy-in-hepatitis-c-positive-compared-to-hepatitis-c-negative-patients-after-renal-transplantation/. Accessed May 14, 2025.

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