Improved liver function and decreased hepatitis C viral load after tacrolimus was replaced by cyclosporine.
Potential antiviral properties of cyclosporine against hepatitis C virus have been highlighted in several publications. Therefore, we investigated the effect of a switch from tacrolimus to cyclosporine in a liver transplant recipient with recurrent hepatitis C who did not respond to antiviral therapy. The patient received a liver transplant for hepatitis C cirrhosis. Initial immunosuppressive treatment was based on tacrolimus. Because of viral activity, a combined therapy was initiated 20 months later including interferon and ribavirine. Then, due to a lack of virological and biochemical response, tacrolimus was replaced by cyclosporine (Neoral), while maintaining the same antiviral therapy. Decreases in the viral load and transaminases levels were observed.
Lorho
R
R
Department of Liver Disease, CHU Pontchaillou, Rennes, France. richard.lorho@chu-rennes.fr
Turlin
B
B
de Lajarte-Thirouard
A S
AS
Camus
C
C
Lakehal
M
M
Compagnon
P
P
Meunier
B
B
Boudjema
K
K
Messner
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus