GESTIONE EPATITE C 

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2015 March;61(1):21-9

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Hepatitis C management in post-transplant patients

Hilgenfeldt E. ¹, Firpi R. J. ² ✉

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; ² Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis is the leading cause for liver transplantation (LT) in developed countries. One of the most troubling complications following LT in patients with HCV is that of recurrence. Unfortunately, this occurs in nearly all patients with HCV. Patients suffering recurrence are known to have faster times to fibrosis and consequently higher rates of graft failure. In general, patients whom undergo transplantation for HCV cirrhosis have higher mortalities comparatively. It is for this reason that HCV in post-transplant patients must be strictly monitored for and treated. Until recently, treatment with standard therapy or pegylated interferon and ribavirin was only marginally effective and the use in this population was off-label. With the advent of direct acting antivirals (DAA), hopes for improved sustained virologic response (SVR) exists. This review will attempt to provide an update regarding recent data for HCV treatment in post-transplant patients, and by doing so, hopefully shed light on a previously dim and dreaded illness.