Treatment of hepatitis C in liver transplant recipients in the Moscow Center for Liver Transplantation within 10 years

Abstract

An experience of the Moscow Center for Liver Transplantation in the field of antiviral therapy of hepatitis C in recipients of liver grafts has been analyzed. From 2002 to 2012 forty nine courses of treatment were initiated in 42 patients. Eradication of infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was achieved in 42% patients who received at least one dose of drugs, and in 56% patients who received at least 80% of doses of drugs for more than 80% of the planned duration of therapy. The rate of decrease of HCV viremia during antiviral therapy in liver transplant recipients is slower than in immunocompetent patients, and this fact justifies the need for a more long-term treatment. Accounting for pharmacogenetic indicators prior to antiviral therapy is able to predict the rate of decline in viremia HCV. The main complication of antiviral therapy after liver transplantation was cytopenia. The use of erythropoietin and filgrastim throughout the whole course of therapy allowed to maintain therapeutic doses of antiviral drugs and did not lead to serious adverse events.

Keywords

• liver transplantation
• antiviral therapy
• pegylated interferon
• ribavirin
• hepatitis c