Factors affecting the ten-year outcome of human renal allografts: The effect of viral infections

Long-term (10-year) results of kidney transplantation have been analyzed from this center with respect to several variables. In this report the influence of viral disease was added in studying the effect of cadaver versus living-related donor, recipient race, and compliance. Over all, 10-year actuarial patient and graft survival were 68% and 48%, respectively. Cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, and HIV-1 were studied for their effects, and survival curves analyzed statistically. Although cadaver and living-related donor, recipient race, and compliance were 3 main variables influencing graft survival, these 4 viruses were not selective in their effects on any of them. Hepatitis B surface antigen positivity and hepatitis C antibody positivity did not influence overall mortality or graft survival. Only cytomegalovirus seronegative status was important (as opposed to seropositive status, which was not). Of seronegative patients only those receiving a kidney from a seropositive donor were adversely affected. The presence of HIV-1 antibody had an adverse effect on graft survival, but the question remains as to whether overall mortality in HIV seropositive patients is any worse than those receiving dialysis therapy.