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Impact of immunosuppressive therapy on recurrence of hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Everson Gregory T.
Publication year - 2002
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 - 10.1053/jlts.2002.35852
Subject(s) - medicine , tacrolimus , immunosuppression , liver transplantation , immunology , cirrhosis , methylprednisolone , hepatitis c , regimen , hepatitis , sirolimus , liver disease , hepatitis c virus , transplantation , gastroenterology , virus
1 Approximately 10% to 25% of hepatitis C virus–infected recipients of liver allografts will develop cirrhosis within 5 years of transplantation; this acceleration of the natural history of hepatitis C is caused in part by immunosuppression. 2 Risk factors for aggressive recurrence, graft loss, and death are treated acute cellular rejection, methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and use of OKT3. There appears to be no consistent difference between cyclosporine and tacrolimus in their effects on hepatitis C. 3 The benefit of steroid withdrawal, although commonly practiced in transplant recipients with hepatitis C, has not been proven. 4 Mycophenolate mofetil may show synergistic antiviral properties when used with interferon; however, posttransplantation use has not been associated with consistent beneficial or deleterious effects. 5 Effects of other agents, such as sirolimus or interleukin‐2–receptor antibodies, have not been adequately defined. Early reports suggest that disease activity may be more aggressive when these agents are constituents of the immunosuppressive regimen.