1. Effectiveness of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir with/without Ribavarin in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatitis C
- Author
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Mohammed M. El-Kabany, Tiffany M Fong, Gina Choi, Samantha Ramirez, Caterina A Kachadoorian, Sammy Saab, Justin Rheem, Jonathan Grotts, Michelle Mai, Susan Kang, Ronald W. Busuttil, Francisco Durazo, Steven-Huy B. Han, Melissa Jimenez, Sherona Bau, and Negin L Esmailzadeh
- Subjects
Sustained viral response ,Recurrent infections ,Liver transplantation ,Hepatology ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Hepatitis C virus ,Direct-acting agents ,Hepatitis C ,030230 surgery ,medicine.disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Virology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,LEDIPASVIR/SOFOSBUVIR ,Original Article ,030211 gastroenterology & hepatology ,business ,Immunosuppressant - Abstract
Background and Aims: Recurrent infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver transplant (LT) recipients is universal and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with and without ribavirin in LT recipients with recurrent genotype 1 hepatitis C. Results: Eighty-five LT recipients were treated for recurrent HCV with ledipasvir/sofosbuvirwith and without ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) time from LT to treatment initiation was 68 (±71) months. The mean (± SD) age of the cohort was 63 (±8.6) years old. Most recipients were male (70%). Baseline alanine transaminase, total bilirubin, and HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) values (± SD) were 76.8 (±126) mg/dL, 0.8 (±1.3) U/L, and 8,010,421.9 (±12,420,985) IU/mL, respectively. Five of 43 recipients who were treated with ribavirin required drug cessation due to side effects, with 4 of those being anemia complications. No recipient discontinued the ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. Eighty-one percent of recipients had undetectable viral levels at 4 weeks after starting therapy, and all recipients had complete viral suppression at the end of therapy. The sustained viral response at 12 weeks after completion of therapy was 94%. Conclusion: Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir with and without ribavirin therapy is an effective and well-tolerated interferon-free treatment for recurrent HCV infection after LT. Anemia is not uncommon in LT recipients receiving ribavirin.
- Published
- 2017
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