Quantitation and typing of hepatitis C Virus RNA in patients on interferon and ribavirin prophylaxis after liver transplantation

HCV can be a major source of graft hepatitis after liver transplantation (OLT) in HCV RNA positive OLT candidates. HCV genotypes were identified in 36 OLT recipients (1b subtype in 30 patients). Recipients were divided in 2 groups whether or not they received post-OLT prophylaxis against HCV graft hepatitis recurrence. Prophylaxis (P) started at the 4th week after OLT in 9 patients (alpha IFN 3 MU/3 times week i.m. + ribavirin 800 mg/day p.o.) while 27 patients were not prophylaxed (NP). Overall 2-year-patient survival was 80% in NP and 100% in P. IFN + ribavirin prophylaxis appears to be effective in controlling HCV graft hepatitis occurrence in the first 6 months after OLT with disappearance of HCV RNA in 3 of 9 patients, irrespective of pretreatment serum HCV RNA levels.