title: Combination therapy with peginterferon alpha-2B and ribavirin in liver transplant recipients with recurrent HCV infection: preliminary results of an open prospective study.
abstract: Allograft reinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in transplant recipients occurs commonly and represents a major concern in the transplant setting. Suppression of viral replication in HCV transplant patients should prevent or delay progression to cirrhosis and graft failure. In this ongoing study, we present preliminary data from a prospective trial of standard interferon (IFN) alpha-2b (2 million units daily) for 3 months and subsequent peginterferon (PEG IFN) alpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg/week) for 9 months. IFN therapy was combined with ribavirin (10 to 12 mg/kg). So far, HCV has become undetectable by qualitative PCR in 33% of patients while 25% had a reduction of HCV RNA to undetectable by the bDNA assay and 42% had no virological response after 6 months of therapy. A biochemical response was detected in 42% of patients. Improvement of inflammatory activity was observed in 42% of patients after 6 months. In three patients anemia necessitated administration of erythropoietin and three patients received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) due to leucopenia [corrected] In conclusion, we observed that daily IFN alpha-2b and subsequent PEG IFN alpha-2b therapy in combination with ribavirin provides biochemical and virological benefits in transplant recipients with established recurrent HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology und Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beckebaum
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cicinnati
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malago
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dirsch
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frilling
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Broelsch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b