[Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C infection after liver transplantation]. 2009

Tajana Filipec Kanizaj, and Vesna Colić Cvrlje, and Anna Mrzljak, and Rajko Ostojić
Department of Gastroenterology, University Department of Medicine, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.

Recurrent infection with HCV after liver transplantation is almost universal and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and graft loss. In contrast to immunocompetent individuals, HCV infection in immunosuppressed transplant recipients usually has an accelerated course. Acute hepatitis develops in approximately 75% of HCV recipients in the first six months following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). By the fifth postoperative year, over 80% of HCV-infected liver transplant recipients will develop histologic evidence of chronic allograft injury secondary to hepatitis C, with up to 30% developing cirrhosis. While the choice of calcineurin inhibitor has not been clearly shown to affect histologic recurrence of hepatitis C or the frequency of rejection in HCV-infected recipients, cumulative exposure to corticosteroids is associated with increased mortality, higher levels of HCV viremia and more severe histologic recurrence. Unfortunately, treatment of chronic HCV in liver transplant recipients is suboptimal. Combination therapy with interferon (pegylated and nonpegylated forms) plus ribavirin appears to provide maximum benefits. Drug therapy is usually administered for recurrent disease. No prophylactic therapy is available. Preemptive regimens offer no distinctive advantages over treatments initiated for recurrent disease. Overall, treatment is poorly tolerated, with frequent need for dose reductions, especially for cytopenias, and drug discontinuation in up to 50% of patients. Optimizing drug doses is important in maximizing sustained virologic response rates. The achieved SVR is between 33% and 42% in randomized studies treating patients with histologic recurrence and 0% to 33% when used in a preemptive protocol. The potential factors that influence this low SVR rate are: 1) high percentage of patients with genotype 1 virus; 2) high viral load at the start of treatment; 3) high percentage of prior non-responders to therapy; 4) side effects that often make the use of standard doses and duration of treatment difficult; 5) the use or not of growth factors; and 6) the effect of immunosuppression. In post-transplant patients with recurrent HCV disease, combination Peg alfa-2b or alfa-2a in standard dose and ribavirin (800-1200 mg either ab initio or as an increasing dose) regimen for 48 weeks was significantly better than no therapy, but not than any other therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011092 Polyethylene Glycols Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS. Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D011994 Recombinant Proteins Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology. Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D006526 Hepatitis C INFLAMMATION of the LIVER in humans caused by HEPATITIS C VIRUS, a single-stranded RNA virus. Its incubation period is 30-90 days. Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily by contaminated blood parenterally and is often associated with transfusion and intravenous drug abuse. However, in a significant number of cases, the source of hepatitis C infection is unknown. Hepatitis, Viral, Non-A, Non-B, Parenterally-Transmitted,Parenterally-Transmitted Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis,PT-NANBH,Parenterally Transmitted Non A, Non B Hepatitis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077190 Interferon alpha-2 Alpha interferon encoded by the human IFNA2 gene. Recombinant forms are used in the treatment of CHRONIC HEPATITIS B; CHRONIC HEPATITIS C; KAPOSI SARCOMA; MELANOMA; and HAIRY CELL LEUKEMIA. IFN-alpha 2,IFN-alpha-2,IFNalpha-2b, Recombinant,Interferon alfa-2a,Interferon alfa-2b,Interferon alpha-2b, Recombinant,Interferon alpha-A,Interferon-alpha 2,Intron A (Interferon),LeIF A,Reaferon,Recombinant Interferon alpha-2a,Recombinant Interferon alpha-2b,Ro 22-8181,Roferon-A,Sch-30500,Viferon,IFNalpha 2b, Recombinant,Interferon alfa 2a,Interferon alfa 2b,Interferon alpha 2,Interferon alpha 2b, Recombinant,Interferon alpha A,Interferon alpha-2a, Recombinant,Recombinant IFNalpha-2b,Recombinant Interferon alpha 2a,Recombinant Interferon alpha 2b,Ro 22 8181,Ro 228181,Roferon A,RoferonA,Sch 30500,Sch30500
D000998 Antiviral Agents Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of VIRUS DISEASES. Some of the ways they may act include preventing viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; or blocking late stages of virus assembly. Antiviral,Antiviral Agent,Antiviral Drug,Antivirals,Antiviral Drugs,Agent, Antiviral,Agents, Antiviral,Drug, Antiviral,Drugs, Antiviral
D012254 Ribavirin A nucleoside antimetabolite antiviral agent that blocks nucleic acid synthesis and is used against both RNA and DNA viruses. Ribovirin,Tribavirin,ICN-1229,Rebetol,Ribamide,Ribamidil,Ribamidyl,Ribasphere,Vilona,Viramide,Virazide,Virazole,ICN 1229,ICN1229
D016031 Liver Transplantation The transference of a part of or an entire liver from one human or animal to another. Grafting, Liver,Hepatic Transplantation,Liver Transplant,Transplantation, Hepatic,Transplantation, Liver,Hepatic Transplantations,Liver Grafting,Liver Transplantations,Liver Transplants,Transplant, Liver

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