Hepatitis C virus genotypes, hepatitis, and hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation.
Several genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been recently identified by phylogenetic analysis, but their clinical relevance in the liver transplant setting is unknown. We evaluated the incidence and course of recurrent hepatitis C after transplantation in 50 patients who underwent transplantation for HCV-related liver disease. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained when clinically indicated and at yearly intervals; hepatitis was histologically graded and staged according to standard criteria. HCV-RNA was detected by nested reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCV genotyping was performed by primer specific PCR. Follow-up was 6 to 62 months. HCV genotype distribution after transplantation of our 50 patients was as follows: 31 type 1b, 13 type 2a, 3 type 1a, 1 type 3a, 1 type 1b/2a, and 1, undetermined. Actuarial rates of recurrent hepatitis and of severe fibrosis or cirrhosis 5 years after transplantation were 56% and 20%, respectively, in patients infected by type 1b and 33% (P = .18) and 8% (P = .16) in those infected by 2a. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that in patients infected by HCV type 1b there is a trend for a more aggressive recurrent liver disease.
Belli
L S
LS
Divisione di Medicina Generale-Epatologia CRESPI, Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy.
Silini
E
E
Alberti
A
A
Bellati
G
G
Vai
C
C
Minola
E
E
Rondinara
G
G
de Carlis
L
L
Asti
M
M
Forti
D
D
Ideo
G
G
D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D012367:RNA, Viral