To assess the predictive value, and a possible prognostic role, of tissue and serum HCV RNA in first post-transplant biopsies.
We retrospectively reviewed the first post-transplant biopsies of 83 recipients. Tissue and serum HCV RNA was quantitated by RT-PCR, and compared with serum, clinical and histological data.
HCV RNA quantitation allowed us to categorise recipients into three different risk groups: (1) tissue HCV RNA ¡Ü 1.5 IU/ng with any serum HCV RNA; (2) tissue HCV RNA > 1.5 IU/ng and serum HCV RNA < 40 ¡Á 106 copies/mL; (3) tissue HCV RNA > 1.5 IU/ng and serum HCV RNA ¡Ý 40 ¡Á 106 copies/mL. Hepatitis C virus recurrence rates in the three groups were 68 % , 91 % and 100 % (P = 0.004); hepatitis C virus-related mortality was 0 % , 14 % and 45 % respectively (P < 0.001).
This preliminary study on serum and tissue HCV RNA quantitation allows recipient ¡°stratification¡± in prognostic groups, which could be applicable in the future for timely antiviral treatment and/or immunosuppression modulation.