Study of intercurrent infection pattern in hepatitis C seropositive renal transplant recipients, relationship with T-cell function

Abstract

Background:We assessed the effect of hepatitis C seropositivity on the percentage of various Tcells in living donor renal transplant recipients (LDRTRs) and their association with intercurrent infections post renal transplantation (post-Tx). Methods: One hundred and thirty-three matching LDRTRs [A (seronegative) (68 patients) and B (seropositive) (65 patients) by ELISA] were studied prospectively 10 days, 6 months and 12 months post-Tx for intercurrent infections, acute rejection and T-cell% by flow cytometry.þ , CD4/CD8 were significantly higher 10 days post-Tx in Group B compared to Group A, p < 0.001. A significant increase in CD8% was seen 6-month post-Tx among Group B compared to Group A. No difference was detected between groups in (CD4 þ , CD8 þ , CD4/CD8, CD3-CD16/65