Retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C

1 Primary orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatitis C is performed with good results. 2 Re‐OLT in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected transplant recipients is performed mostly for indications other than recurrent disease in the short‐term after primary OLT. 3 Progressive allograft injury and loss caused by recurrent disease predict an increased need for re‐OLT for HCV recurrence in the long term. 4 Outcomes of re‐OLT for recurrent hepatitis C are equivalent to results for other indications of re‐OLT. 5 Good outcomes are obtained in selected patients when re‐OLT is performed early in the course of recurrent disease before transplant recipients become critically ill. ( Liver Transpl 2002;8:S38‐S43. )