ISSN:
1432-2277
Keywords:
Hepatitis C, liver transplantation, ribavirin
;
Liver transplantation, hepatitis C, ribavirin
;
Ribavirin, liver transplantation, hepatitis C
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Hepatitis C infection following orthotopic liver transplantation may lead to progressive chronic graft dysfunction. In this study, seven liver transplant recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction due to hepatitis C infection (one acquired and six recurrent infections) were treated with oral ribavirin for 6 months. Symptoms of lethargy, nausea and anorexia improved in all patients within 2 weeks of starting the drug, with a fall in serum AST of at least 40% by this time. Ribavirin-induced haemolysis was clinically significant in three patients, necessitating a reduction in the daily dose of ribavirin from 1.2 g to 0.2 g. Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment biopsy specimens in the four patients who tolerated the full dose of ribavirin and who had normal AST levels at the end of 6 months of treatment showed significant histological improvement with reduction in either lobular or periportal inflammation in all of the patients and a reduction in periportal fibrosis in one patient. HCV RNA remained detectable in serum in all of the patients at the end of the study.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00366714
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