skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Managing hepatitis C in liver transplant patients with recurrent infection

Review

(2411) Views  (805) Full article downloads

Authors: Tim Zimmermann, Gerd Otto, Marcus Schuchmann

Published Date September 2009 Volume 2009:1(Default) Pages 1 - 14
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TRRM.S4615

Tim Zimmermann1, Gerd Otto2, Marcus Schuchmann1

1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Transplantation Surgery, University of Mainz, Germany

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection after liver transplantation (LT) and recurrent hepatitis C often lead to recurrent cirrhosis (RC). RC is one of the most frequent complications resulting in organ failure and early death after LT in HCV-positive patients with reported 5-year rates from 20% to 40%. As HCV-cirrhosis is one of the leading indications for LT, the therapeutic management is a central issue. To date, the best available therapy is a combination of pegylated interferon + ribavirin in patients with established recurrent hepatitis C proven by liver biopsy. Although increasing experience in using interferon therapy after LT has suggested better response rates, treatment is limited by a poor tolerability and high rates of severe side effects, necessitating lower doses or withdrawal of therapy. The extent to which dose reductions and the concomitant administration of growth factors affect virological response or prevent complications is still to be determined. Prospective clinical trials are mandatory to identify the best time point and schedule of antiviral treatment in transplant patients. Currently, therapeutic options need to be discussed for each individual patient. Therefore therapy should be carried out only in transplant centers with experience in managing hepatitis C after LT.

Keywords: hepatitis C, liver transplantation, recurrent infection, treatment








Readers of this article also read:

Periosteoplasty for covering gingival recessions: Clinical results
Radiolucency below the crown of mandibular horizontal incompletely impacted third molars and acute inflammation in men with diabetes
Role of aliskiren in cardio-renal protection and use in hypertensives with multiple risk factors
Let’s be effective, let the patients talk! Does ‘patient intelligence’ have an effect on improvements in quality within the healthcare environment?
Enucleation following treatment with intravenous pentamidine for Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis
Perception of risk and benefit in patient-centered communication and care
The relationship between deliberate self-harm behavior, body dissatisfaction, and suicide in adolescents: current concepts
Zinc oxide nanoparticles as selective killers of proliferating cells
Cumulative clinical experience from over a decade of use of levofloxacin in community-acquired pneumonia: critical appraisal and role in therapy
Erratum