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CXCL 10 levels identify individuals with rapid fibrosis at 12 months post‐transplant for hepatitis C virus and predict treatment response
Author(s) -
Joshi Deepak,
Carey Ivana,
Foxton Matthew,
AlFreah Mohammed,
Bruce Matthew,
Heaton Nigel,
Quaglia Alberto,
O'Grady John,
Aluvihare Varuna,
Agarwal Kosh
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12354
Subject(s) - medicine , fibrosis , cxcl10 , gastroenterology , transplantation , liver transplantation , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , stage (stratigraphy) , immunology , virus , chemokine , inflammation , paleontology , biology
Abstract Backgrounds Recurrent hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection is universal post‐transplantation. Fibrosis (F) stage ≥2 at 12 months identifies patients with rapid fibrosis progression. Antiviral therapy ( AVT ) remains the only option to attenuate fibrosis progression. We hypothesized that CXCL 10 levels can distinguish between slow and fast fibrosis progression at 12 months, development of F ≥ 4 post‐transplantation, and help predict treatment response in patients undergoing AVT . Methods All patients that had undergone primary liver transplantation at King's College Hospital, London, between 2000 and 2011 were identified. Quantification of CXCL 10 was performed using an ELISA ‐based assay on stored plasma at six months post‐transplant and pre‐treatment. Comparison was made with liver biopsies performed at 12 months and in the post‐transplant period where available. Results One hundred and thirty‐three patients were included. CXCL 10 levels were lower in the slow fibrosis group compared to the rapid fibrosis group (p < 0.0001). CXCL 10 correlated with F stage, necro‐inflammatory score, and serum transaminases (<0.0001). CXCL 10 was an independent predictor of F ≥ 2 at 12 months and F ≥ 4 (p < 0.05). Pre‐treatment CXCL 10 levels were an independent predictor of sustained virologic response (p = 0.04). Conclusions CXCL 10 levels help identify patients with rapid fibrosis progression in patients with recurrent HCV and those that are likely to respond to AVT .