The role of Screening for Herpes Simplex Virus in Candidates of Renal Transplantation

Background: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection in immunocompromised hosts like kidney transplant patients causes more morbidity and mortality than the general population. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of screening for HSV in donors and recipients of kidney transplantation. Materials and Methods: From October 2012 to November 2013, this cross sectional study was conducted on donors and recipients who were referred to our kidney transplant center in Ahvaz city, Iran. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect social and demographic data. The patients and donors were screened for HSV IgG and IgM antibodies by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA).Other routine pretransplant laboratory studies were also performed. Results: Overall 37 people (22 donors, 20 males and 2 females with mean age of 30 ± 5 years; 15 recipients, eight males and seven females with mean age of 45 ± 6 years) were enrolled in this study. All of the recipients were on hemodialysis. The markers of HBV and HCV infection were negative in 100% of recipients and donors. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) IgG antibody was positive in 93.33% of recipients (n = 14) and 77.27% of donors (n = 17). Herpes Simplex Virus (HAV) IgM antibody was positive in 33.33% of recipients (n = 5) and 13.63% of donors (n = 3). Conclusions: Herpes Simplex Virus is a common infection in donor and recipient candidates for kidney transplantation in Khuzestan province of Iran, and it seems that we need to perform screening for this infection to avoid kidney donation from seropositive donors to seronegative recipients.