Natural history of hepatitis C and outcomes following liver transplantation

Clin Liver Dis. 2003 Aug;7(3):585-602. doi: 10.1016/s1089-3261(03)00046-1.

Abstract

Hepatitis C-associated liver failure is the most common indication for liver transplantation and the infection recurs nearly universally following transplantation. Histologic evidence of recurrence is apparent in approximately 50% of HCV-infected recipients in the first postoperative year. Approximately 10% of HCV-infected recipients will die or lose their allograft secondary to hepatitis C-associated allograft failure in the medium term. HCV-infected recipients who undergo retransplantation experience 5-year patient and graft survival rates that are similar to recipients undergoing retransplantation who are not HCV-infected. While the choice of calcineurin inhibitor or the use of azathioprine have 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. In contrast to non-HCV-infected recipients, treatment for acute cellular rejection is associated with attenuated patient survival among recipients with hepatitis C. The development of steroid-resistant rejection is associated with a greater than 5-fold increased risk of mortality in HCV-infected liver transplant recipients. In lieu of large studies in a posttransplant population, therapy with pegylated IFN (+/- ribavirin) should be considered in recipients with histologically apparent recurrence of hepatitis C before total bilirubin exceeds 3 mg/dl. The role of hepatitis C immunoglobulin and new immunosuppression agents in the management of posttransplant hepatitis C infection is still evolving.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Graft Rejection / virology
  • Hepacivirus / growth & development*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / surgery*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents