title: Hot topic in hepatitis C virus research: the type of immunosuppression does not matter.
abstract: 1. The natural history of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly variable. Old donor age is a factor that has consistently been shown to affect disease progression. 2. Overall, immunosuppression determines the progression of HCV-related disease; however, the type of immunosuppressive agent used for induction or maintenance is not a key factor. 3. Steroid boluses should be avoided; they are associated with increased viremia, fibrosis progression, and reduced survival. 4. Antiviral therapy, particularly if it is successful, is associated with improved outcomes for liver transplant recipients with HCV. 5. There are no convincing data for modifying the type of immunosuppression before antiviral therapy is started.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain. mbhaym@teleline.es
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berenguer
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016572:Cyclosporine; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus