HEPATITIS C IS A POOR PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR IN BLACK KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Abstract

Anti-HCV is a significant risk factor for reduced kidney graft survival in blacks apart from i.v. drug abuse. Black anti-HCV- patients had graft survival similar to white transplant recipients, indicating that anti-HCV may be one marker for the poorer graft survival in blacks that has been observed in most transplant programs. Anti-HCV in kidney transplant recipients increases the risk for the development of chronic hepatitis post-transplant.