Histopathological Impacts of Hepatitis Virus Infection in Hemodialysis Patients: Should Liver Biopsy Be Performed Before Renal Transplantation?

• Published in: Artificial organs 1997-05, Vol.21 (5), p.355-358
• Main Authors: Özdoĝan, Mete, Özgür, Orhan, Gür, Gürden, Boyacioĝlu, Sedat, Özderin, Yasemin, Demirhan, Beyhan, Telatar, Hasan, Haberal, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biopsy, Needle; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepacivirus - metabolism; Hepatitis B Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - analysis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Hepatitis C - pathology; Hepatitis C - physiopathology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis viruses; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Liver - pathology; Liver - virology; Liver Cirrhosis - physiopathology; Liver disease; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Renal transplantation
• ISSN: 0160-564X; 1525-1594
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1997.tb00730.x

: To evaluate the histologic changes in the livers of renal transplant candidates who were infected with hepatitis viruses, we performed a percutaneous liver biopsy in each of 74 regular hemodialysis patients. Forty percent of them were seropositive for the antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) whereas 29.7% had anti‐HCV and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) concomitantly. Seven (9.5%) were seropositive for only hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg. Histopathological examination revealed that 30% of patients had chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 11% had chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), and 3% displayed histopathological evidence of cirrhosis. Eleven of 22 patients with CAH were positive for only anti‐HCV, and 2 of 22 were positive for only HBsAg. One patient had HBsAg and anti‐HCV together, and 8 of 22 had anti‐HBs and anti‐HCV concomitantly. None of the anti‐HBs positive patients exhibited abnormal histopathological changes. We found no statistically significant difference in histopathological findings between the HBsAg positive and anti‐HCV positive patients. As 32 of 74 patients (43%) had some degree of chronic liver disease, we concluded that it is prudent to evaluate liver histology in HBsAg and anti‐HCV seropositive renal transplant candidates before transplantation.