title: Pegylated interferon-alpha2a/ribavirin treatment of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection invariably recurs after liver transplantation (LT), leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Although the combination of pegylated interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)/ribavirin is the preferred treatment for these patients, the optimal schedule remains undetermined. In an uncontrolled trial, 19 patients with HCV infection recurring after LT received pegylated IFN-alpha(2a), 180 mug weekly, and ribavirin, 10 mg/kg body weight daily, for 48 weeks. The proportion of patients with undetectable HCV RNA in their serum after 12 weeks of treatment was 53%. Five patients (26%) dropped out of the study due to intolerance (in 2 cases), depression (in 1), or infectious complications (in 2). A sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable serum HCV RNA 24 weeks after the end of treatment, was observed in 9/19 patients (47%). SVR was associated with an early virological response after 12 weeks of therapy (P<0.001) and a treatment duration >80% (P=0.02), but not with baseline HCV RNA level or a cumulative dose of pegylated IFN-alpha(2a) or ribavirin >80% of the scheduled dose. All 4 patients with genotype 2 or 3 reached SVR, as compared with 33% of patients with genotype 1 or 4 (P=0.03). A 48-week course of pegylated IFN-alpha(2a)/ribavirin therapy is effective in patients with recurrent HCV infection after LT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dinges
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Müllhaupt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giostra
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mentha
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a