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Response to antiviral therapy in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C viral infection: a single center experience
Author(s) -
Jain Ashok,
Sharma Rajeev,
Ryan Charlotte,
Safadjou Saman,
Kashyap Randeep,
Mantry Parvez,
Maliakkal Benedict,
Orloff Mark
Publication year - 2010
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/j.1399-0012.2009.00961.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ribavirin , gastroenterology , pegylated interferon , hepatitis c , liver transplantation , hepatitis c virus , viral load , antiviral therapy , single center , liver biopsy , combination therapy , immunology , transplantation , biopsy , chronic hepatitis , virus
Jain A, Sharma R, Ryan C, Safadjou S, Kashyap R, Mantry P, Maliakkal B, Orloff M. Response to antiviral therapy in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C viral infection: a single center experience.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 104–111. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Introduction: Recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hepatic allograft is a major concern after successful liver transplant (LTx). Aim: To examine the response rate to pegylated interferon (PEG–IFN) and ribavirin in post‐LTx patients with HCV recurrence. Patients and methods: Between January 2003 and September 2006, 60 patients with biopsy proven HCV recurrence (46 males and 14 females) received PEG–IFN 2a (n = 40) or IFN 2b (n = 20) with ribavirin. All patients were followed until July 2007. Results: Fourteen patients (23.3%) tolerated antiviral therapy for less than six months and 10 (16.7%) discontinued therapy between six and 11 months. PEG–IFN dose was reduced in 21 (35%) patients and ribavirin dose was reduced in 16 (26.7%) patients. Overall, 55% patients achieved end of treatment response (EOT) and 35% sustained virological response (SVR). Mean Hepatitis Activity Index and Fibrosis Score pre‐therapy was 5.8 ± 1.9 and 1.7 ± 1.3 and post‐therapy, it was 4.4 ± 2.1 and 2.4 ± 1.6, respectively. Overall, three yr patient and graft survival was 73.9% and 69.2%, respectively. The patients with SVR had significantly lower viral load compared with other groups (p = 0.028). Conclusion: PEG–IFN and ribavirin therapy achieved 55% EOT and 35% SVR; 60% patients tolerated therapy. Biochemical response was observed in all groups of patients irrespective of virological response.