Hepatitis C Virus Quasi-Species Dynamics Predict Progression of Fibrosis after Liver Transplantation.

The dynamics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasi species in the E2 region may correlate with the course of infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Complexity was higher in group 1 patients than in group 2 patients before OLT (P < .02) and at 1 week after OLT (P < .04). Diversity decreased in group 1 at transmission, as measured by either SE (P < .01) or MMS (P < .04). However, diversity increased in this group after OLT, as measured by SE (P < .03) ) or MMS (P < .02). FS at 1 year after OLT correlated with transmission changes, as measured by SE (re = 0.642, P < .0001) and MMS (r = 0.443, P < .04), and with post-OLT changes (for SE: r = -0.583, P < .01; for MMS: r = -0.536, P < .01). HCV complexity and diversity in the E2 region correlated with the severity of recurrence of HCV infection after OLT. Increased diversity of quasi species at transmission correlated with a higher FS at 1 year. However, increased diversity of quasi species in the post-OLT period correlated with a lower FS at 1 year. The dynamics of HCV quasi species in patients who undergo transplantation are predictive of outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]