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Liver transplantation for HCV‐related cirrhosis in a patient with gastric mucosa‐associated lymphoma (MALToma) pretreated with rituximab
Author(s) -
Foxton Matthew R.,
Knight Lisa,
Knisely Alex S.,
Mufti Ghulam J.,
O'Grady John,
Muiesan Paolo,
Norris Suzanne
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.20403
Subject(s) - medicine , rituximab , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , lymphoma , gastroenterology , hepatitis c virus , liver disease , hepatitis c , transplantation , pathology , immunology , virus
End‐stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is now the most frequent indication for liver transplantation. HCV infection is associated with extrahepatic disease including cryoglobulinemia and lymphoma. The number of patients requiring liver transplantation (LT) for cirrhosis secondary to HCV infection has increased over the past 10 years; consequently, associated extrahepatic manifestations (in particular hematological malignancies) will be more commonly observed in this patient group. The management of patients with both end‐stage liver disease and significant HCV‐related extrahepatic disease is undefined. We report a 59‐year‐old man in whom extranodal marginal‐zone B‐cell lymphoma arising in gastric mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALToma) was successfully eradicated by rituximab administration and gastrectomy at LT for HCV‐related cirrhosis. Our experience with rituximab in this patient suggests that it can be used safely in the setting of severe liver disease due to HCV infection. Rituximab may be useful in preventing progression of NHL until surgical extirpation is possible. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:839–842.)