title: Long-term antiviral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation in nonresponders: biochemical, virological, and histological impact.
abstract: More than 50% of patients with a recurrent posttransplant hepatitis C virus infection fail to respond to antiviral treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interest of a long-term antiviral treatment maintained for more than 48 weeks. Seventy treated patients, with a histological follow-up > 1 year, were enrolled in this observational, retrospective study. The duration of antiviral treatment, tolerance, and occurrence of virological, biochemical, and histological responses were recorded. Thirty-two patients were nonresponders after 48 weeks of treatment. Combined antiviral therapy was maintained for >12 months in 26 and for >18 months in 21. Twelve patients had to discontinue their treatment. At 48 weeks, the rates of virological response and sustained virological response were 37% and 24.3%, respectively; at the end of the follow-up, they were 48.5% and 35.7%. Virological response was significantly associated with a higher incidence of biochemical and histological response, regardless of its time of occurrence (before or after 6 months). Even in the absence of virological response, the rate of progression of fibrosis was significantly slowed in patients treated for more than 6 months. Our results show the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of long-term antiviral therapy in nonresponder patients with a recurrent posttransplant hepatitis C virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Transplantation Hépatique, Fédération des Spécialités Digestives, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Scoazec
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guillaud
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hervieu
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boillot
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dumortier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents