Objective: To explore the effect and safety of transplantation of kidneys from HBV-positive or HCV-positive donors.
Methods: From January 2002 to June 2006, 283 kidney transplantations were performed in Second Xiangya Hospital. Altogether 57 recipients were HBV-positive, including 31 from donors with viral B hepatitis (DB + /RB +), and 26 from donors with HBV-negative (DB - /RB +). Nineteen patients with hepatitis C virus underwent a kidney transplantation, including 6 who received kidneys from anti-HCV-positive donors (DC + /RC +) and 13 from seronegative donors (DC - /RC +). Recipient's liver function, acute rejection, graft survival, and patient survival had been observed for an average follow-up of 14 months.
Results: No significant difference was observed between the DB + /RB + group and DB - /RB + group, or the DC + /RC + group and DC - /RC + group in the rate of liver disfunction, acute rejection, graft survival, and patient survival.
Conclusion: Kidney transplantations from HBV-positive or HCV-positive donors into the matched serology-positive recipients is safe in the short term, and the long-term results need further observation.