1. Treatment of recurrent genotype 4 hepatitis C after liver transplantation: early virological response is predictive of sustained virological response. An AISF RECOLT-C Group Study
- Author
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Francesca Romana Ponziani, Alessandro Milani, Antonio Gasbarrini, Raffaella Zaccaria, Raffaella Viganò, Maria Francesca Donato, Maria Cristina Morelli, Lucia Miglioresi, Luisa Pasulo, Maria Rendina, Daniele Di Paolo, Maria Marino, Pierluigi Toniutto, Stefano Fagiuoli, and Maurizio Pompili
- Subjects
HCV recurrence ,Liver transplantation ,HCV treatment ,Genotype 4 ,EVR ,Specialties of internal medicine ,RC581-951 - Abstract
Introduction. Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 is predominant in the Middle East and Northern Africa, even if it has recently spread to Southern Europe. Data about the treatment of post-liver transplantation (LT) genotype 4 hepatitis C recurrence are scarce. We report a retrospective analysis of post-LT genotype 4 hepatitis C treatment in 9 Italian transplant centres, focusing on the overall survival rates and treatment outcome.Results. Among 452 recipients, we identified 17 HCV genotype 4 patients (16 males, 1 female) transplanted between 1998 and 2007. All patients received combined antiviral treatment with conventional doses of interferon (recombinant or pegylated) and ribavirin after histological diagnosis of hepatitis C recurrence. The observed overall survival after LT was 100% at 1 year and 83.3% at 5 years. More than 1/3 (35.3%) of patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) and 40% (data available in 15 subjects) an early virological response (EVR), which was significantly associated with the achievement of SVR (overall accuracy: 85.7%; predictive values of EVR absence/presence 80/88.8%; chi-square p < 0.05).Conclusion. In conclusion, in post-LT genotype 4 hepatitis C treatment, SVR rates are similar to genotype 1. Patients who don’t show an EVR are not likely to achieve a SVR.
- Published
- 2012
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