title: Ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C infection following liver transplantation.
abstract: Hepatitis C infection following orthotopic liver transplantation may lead to progressive chronic graft dysfunction. In this study, seven liver transplant recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction due to hepatitis C infection (one acquired and six recurrent infections) were treated with oral ribavirin for 6 months. Symptoms of lethargy, nausea and anorexia improved in all patients within 2 weeks of starting the drug, with a fall in serum AST of at least 40% by this time. Ribavirin-induced haemolysis was clinically significant in three patients, necessitating a reduction in the daily dose of ribavirin from 1.2 g to 0.2 g. Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment biopsy specimens in the four patients who tolerated the full dose of ribavirin and who had normal AST levels at the end of 6 months of treatment showed significant histological improvement with reduction in either lobular or periportal inflammation in all of the patients and a reduction in periportal fibrosis in one patient. HCV RNA remained detectable in serum in all of the patients at the end of the study.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gane
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tibbs
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ramage
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Portmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin