BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interferon (IFN) with ribavirin combination therapy (CT) was proposed for the treatment of hepatitis C recurring in liver transplants. We assessed the efficacy of two protocols of CT in transplanted patients with recurrent severe hepatitis C virus (HCV) hepatitis.METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (68% genotype 1b) were treated with IFN alfa-2b 3 million units three times weekly and oral ribavirin 800mg/die for 6 or 12 months. Study end-points were the end of treatment (ETVR) and the 12-month post-therapy sustained virologic response (SVR; negative HCV-RNA).RESULTS: ETVR was induced in 9/27 (33%) and in 7/30 patients (23%) treated, respectively, for 6 and 12 months (P=0.4); a SVR was induced in six (22%) of the former and five (17%) of the latter (P=0.4). HCV genotype non-1 patients responded better than genotype 1 (SVR: 43% in genotype non-1 versus 12% in genotype 1, P: 0.02). In ETV responders the hepatitis activity index improved by >2 points in biopsies taken after therapy compared to pre-therapy biopsies. Anemia and leukopenia required reduction of therapy in 51% of the patients.CONCLUSIONS: CT is efficacious in controlling HCV disease in about 20% of transplants with recurrent hepatitis C. Six months of therapy are as efficacious as 12 months.

Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C in liver transplants: efficacy of a six versus a twelve month course of interferon alfa 2b with ribavirin.

SMEDILE, Antonina;BOBBIO, Adriana;SALIZZONI, Mauro;RIZZETTO, Mario
2002-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interferon (IFN) with ribavirin combination therapy (CT) was proposed for the treatment of hepatitis C recurring in liver transplants. We assessed the efficacy of two protocols of CT in transplanted patients with recurrent severe hepatitis C virus (HCV) hepatitis.METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (68% genotype 1b) were treated with IFN alfa-2b 3 million units three times weekly and oral ribavirin 800mg/die for 6 or 12 months. Study end-points were the end of treatment (ETVR) and the 12-month post-therapy sustained virologic response (SVR; negative HCV-RNA).RESULTS: ETVR was induced in 9/27 (33%) and in 7/30 patients (23%) treated, respectively, for 6 and 12 months (P=0.4); a SVR was induced in six (22%) of the former and five (17%) of the latter (P=0.4). HCV genotype non-1 patients responded better than genotype 1 (SVR: 43% in genotype non-1 versus 12% in genotype 1, P: 0.02). In ETV responders the hepatitis activity index improved by >2 points in biopsies taken after therapy compared to pre-therapy biopsies. Anemia and leukopenia required reduction of therapy in 51% of the patients.CONCLUSIONS: CT is efficacious in controlling HCV disease in about 20% of transplants with recurrent hepatitis C. Six months of therapy are as efficacious as 12 months.
2002
37(2)
247
252
B. Lavezzo; A. Franchello; A. Smedile; E. David; A. Barbui; M. Torrani; A. Ottobrelli; F. Zamboni; M. Fadda; A. Bobbio; M. Salizzoni; M. Rizzetto....espandi
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/147439
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 120
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact