Recurrent hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in transplanted patients: a review

Minerva Med. 2013 Apr;104(2):225-32.

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common occurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The association steatosis/HCV determines important implications for clinical practice: steatosis accelerates the progression of fibrosis and reduces the likelihood of obtaining a sustained virological response (SVR) with antiviral therapy. In post-transplant HCV patients we have evidenced a strong correlation between body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, triglycerides (TGC) and hepatic percentage of steatosis. In subjects with BMI <25 and TGC <160 ng/mL, the chance of SVR was 48 times higher than that of non response. The chances of SVR and sustained biochemical response for patients with percentage of steatosis <15 were 12 times higher than that with higher percentage of steatosis. We can conclude how the amount of steatosis be noted specifically in biopsy examination reports of patients with relapse chronic hepatitis C and how the management of dismetabolism, diet and exercise therapy can improve BMI, liver histology and the response to antiviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / etiology*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Recurrence
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol