Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin for the Recurrence of Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 in Transplant Patients
The efficacy of pegylated interferon (p-IFN) and ribavirin (RB) in transplant patients is not well known. Chronic hepatitis C evolves in a more aggressive form after transplantation, causing a worse survival. Twenty-one naïve patients with recurrent chronic hepatitis C demonstrated by biopsy were tr...
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Published in | Transplantation proceedings Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 3963 - 3964 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article Conference Proceeding |
Language | English |
Published |
New York, NY
Elsevier Inc
01.11.2005
Elsevier Science |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The efficacy of pegylated interferon (p-IFN) and ribavirin (RB) in transplant patients is not well known. Chronic hepatitis C evolves in a more aggressive form after transplantation, causing a worse survival. Twenty-one naïve patients with recurrent chronic hepatitis C demonstrated by biopsy were treated for 48 weeks with p-IFN alpha2b (1.5 μg/kg/wk) and RB (>10.6 mg/kg/d). Quantification of RNA was performed (Amplicor Cobas 2.0 Roche) at baseline, 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks. A qualitative technique was used when quantitative levels were undetectable. At more than 1 year since liver transplantation we did not detect coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus or use steroid treatment. Among the cohort there were 16 men (76.2%). The mean overall age was 52 ± 12 years. Time from liver transplant to treatment was 1637 ± 1030 days. They were all infected with genotype 1. Eight patients received cyclosporine and the others tacrolimus. One patient was coinfected with hepatitis B virus and was receiving lamivudine. The mean initial histological activity index was 6.9 ± 1.5 and fibrosis, 2.52 ± 1.8 (Ishak). Two patients needed spleen embolization before the treatment. Two patients had to stop the treatment: one due to clinical intolerance, and the other one due to a cholangitis. In 14%, p-IFN doses were adjusted. In 32% RB was adjusted. Five (23.8%) did not respond at 24 weeks. Fourteen (66.7%) showed end-treatment responses but four relapsed at 72 weeks. A sustained viral response was achieved in 9 (42.8%). One patient died due to arterial thrombosis just after completing the treatment. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0041-1345 1873-2623 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.10.060 |