Management of hepatitis C after transplantation: a long way from success

Recurrence of hepatitis C after transplantation is expected. Unfortunately, the outcome is poor in some, with as many as 25% of patients developing decompensated cirrhosis. Thus, developing treatment strategies to eradicate infection or slow the progression of hepatic fibrosis is crucial. The published data on treatment in this population is limited with viral response rates reported anywhere from 0-48%. Furthermore, the poor tolerability of therapy is highlighted in the Berenguer article. These data emphasize the importance of developing effective non-interferon based therapies for the post-transplant patient.