title: Hepatitis C virus therapy in liver transplant recipients: response predictors, effect on fibrosis progression, and importance of the initial stage of fibrosis.
abstract: Antiviral therapy after liver transplantation (LT) using interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) can achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) rate ranging from 20% to 45%. The aims of our study were to assess efficacy and tolerability of therapy, effect on fibrosis progression and the importance of the initial fibrosis stage to outcome. A total of 113 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected LT patients received 133 courses of IFN (standard, n = 29, pegylated IFN [pegIFN], n = 104) and RBV (75% genotype 1). Early virological response (EVR), end-of-treatment (EOT), and SVR were obtained in 74%, 55%, and 38%, respectively. EVR, completion of treatment, viral load before therapy, genotype non-1, and use of pegIFN were predictive of SVR, but only EVR remained in the multivariate analysis. SVR was obtained in 45% patients who received a second course of therapy. Paired biopsies at baseline, at EOT and at long-term were available in 42 patients. The mean fibrosis stage remained stable in patients with SVR and increased in patients without response. Rejection episodes were observed in 6% of patients. Tolerability of therapy decrease in patients with fibrosis stage > or =3 on baseline liver biopsy. A total of 20% of them died or were retransplanted due to liver failure as opposed to 1% of patients who had fibrosis stage <3. In conclusion, IFN and RBV achieved SVR in 38% of patients. EVR is independently associated with SVR. Fibrosis stage remained stable in patients with SVR and increased in nonresponders. Fibrosis stage > or =3 was associated with a high rate of liver failure, arguing for an early introduction of antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP Hopital Paul Brousse, Centre Hepato-Biliaire, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Mylene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebagh
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Canfora
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roque-Afonso
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delvart
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Duclos-Vallee
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castaing
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samuel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons