Antibodies against hepatitis C virus among renal transplant patients in Greece

To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Greek renal transplant (RT) patients and its association with abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), serum anti‐HCV was determined (Ortho‐ELISA test system) in 206 RT and 245 haemodialysis patients (HD) as controls. The prevalence (10.2%) of anti‐HCV in RT patients was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the Greek general population (0.7%) and lower (P < 0.0001) than in the HD patients (23.8%), and was not related to the patients' age, post‐transplant time or pre‐transplant HD time. None of the anti‐HCV RT patients was HBsAg +, whereas 13 (62%) and 12 (57%) of them were anti‐HBsAg + and anti‐HBc +, respectively. The incidence of abnormal LFTs in anti‐HCV + HBsAg − and anti‐HCV − HBsAg + RT patients was similar. Our findings indicate that: (a) the prevalence of serum anti‐HCV in the Greek RT population is high, although considerably lower than in HD pts; (b) anti‐HCV + RT patients have a high incidence of abnormal LFTs, comparable to that seen in HBsAg + RT patients; and (c) in a substantial proportion of anti‐HCV + RT patients there is evidence of previous HBV infection.