Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Reduced Complications after Arterial Reconnection in a Rat Model of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Published on: November 7, 2020
Hepatitis C Virus and Liver Transplantation
Kalyan Ram Bhamidimarri1, Sanjaya K Satapathy1, Paul Martin1
1Dr Bhamidimarri is an assistant professor of clinical medicine and Dr Martin is a professor of medicine in the Division of Hepatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Dr Satapathy is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Surgery at the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Insights
Direct-acting antiviral therapies offer high Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure rates, even in liver transplant patients. Treatment may require adjustments for optimal outcomes in complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant cause of mortality and a leading indication for liver transplantation.
- Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have transformed HCV treatment, achieving high cure rates.
- DAA safety and tolerability facilitate HCV treatment in pre- and post-liver transplant patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- To emphasize the applicability of DAAs in liver transplant recipients and patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
- To discuss optimizing HCV treatment in challenging liver transplant settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of published data on DAA therapies for HCV.
- Analysis of DAA efficacy and safety in liver transplant recipients.
- Evaluation of treatment modifications in specific patient populations.
Main Results:
- DAA therapies demonstrate high cure rates (>90%) for Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- DAAs are safe and well-tolerated in liver transplant settings.
- Certain patient profiles may necessitate extended treatment durations or combination therapy.
Conclusions:
- HCV treatment in liver transplant recipients requires individualized approaches.
- DAA regimens can be effectively applied in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients.
- Optimizing DAA therapy may involve adjusting treatment duration or adding ribavirin.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of death from infectious disease and is still the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States and other Western countries. All-oral, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have revolutionized the field, with HCV cure rates of more than 90% among treated patients. The safety and tolerability of these DAA agents have expanded the feasibility of HCV treatment even in the challenging pre- and post-liver transplant settings. However, the unique properties of DAA agents and the host profiles in these settings can limit the generalizability of HCV regimens, and prolongation of treatment duration or addition of ribavirin may be required in certain scenarios to optimize treatment outcomes. HCV therapy in the liver transplant setting is not one-size-fits-all; thus, this review summarizes the published data and emphasizes the applicability of currently available DAA therapies in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and in liver transplant recipients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction