title: Hepatitis C Virus RNA Persists in Liver Explants of Most Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation Treated With an Interferon-Free Regimen.
abstract: We assessed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver explants from 39 patients awaiting liver transplantation who were treated with an interferon-free regimen and had undetectable serum HCV RNA at the time of liver transplantation. Interestingly, HCV RNA was detected in most liver explants (67%). Patients with HCV RNA-positive explants had received shorter courses of treatment, and HCV RNA was undetectable in serum for shorter periods before transplantation compared to patients with HCV RNA-negative explants (P = .014 and P = .013, respectively). Levels of HCV RNA in explants were significantly higher in patients with a relapse of HCV infection than patients who responded to treatment (P = .016), but most patients (85%) with residual HCV-RNA in the explant achieved a sustained virologic response after receiving their liver transplant.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambato
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Del-Pulgar
authors.affiliation: Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hedskog
authors.affiliation: Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California.
authors.forename: Evguenia S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Svarovskia
authors.affiliation: Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brainard
authors.affiliation: Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, California.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charlton
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caro-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Carlota
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Londoño
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koutsoudakis
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: xforns@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Forns
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response; D019737:Transplants / Q000821:virology*; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: DAA; IFN-free; SVR; Viral Persistence