Hepatitis: Loehe F

Pratschke S, Loehe F, Graeb C, Jauch KW, Angele MK. · Klinikum Grosshadern, Department of Surgery, Munich, Germany. · Zentralbl Chir. · Pubmed #19382040 No free full text.

Abstract: The transplantation of marginal organs or those meeting the so-called extended donor criteria (EDC) is today a significant option to alleviate the low availability or organs and to increase the number of transplantation which in turn is -accompanied by a lower mortality among wait-ing-list patients. However such an extension of the spender pool carries the risks of an increased incidence of organ dysfuntions and a higher recipient mortality. This situation presents an ethical problem when marginal organs are accepted for transplantation because the anticipated mortality for the individual recipient cannot be determined. The transplantation of marginal organs from -donors with a high MELD score seems to be linked to a higher mortality. In particular, the combina-tions of high donor age and long ischaemic time or advanced donor age and hepatitis C infection in the recipient are definitively associated with a significantly poorer organ survival rate. In view of the serious lack of organs, efforts should be made, for example, by shortening of the is-chae-mic time and the development of therapeutic strategies, to improve the function and increase the number of usable marginal organs and thus to increase pool of donor organs. The refusal of marginal organs on the basis of individual EDC without consideration of the status of recipient does not seem to be adequate.

Raziorrouh B, Jung MC, Schirren CA, Loehe F, Thiel M, Nitschko H, Diepolder H, Ulsenheimer A, Heeg M, Zachoval R, Gruener NH. · Medical Department II, Klinikum Grosshadern, Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximillians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany. · Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. · Pubmed #18617783 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation (LT) is a major cause of transplant failure in HCV-positive patients. We retrospectively assessed the efficacy and safety of antiviral therapy and determined the factors influencing sustained virologic response (SVR) in LT recipients. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2007, we treated 36 LT recipients for hepatitis C cirrhosis and subsequent HCV recurrence (27 genotype 1 and 9 genotypes 2/3) with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (180 microg/week), pegylated interferon alpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg per week), or standard interferon alpha-2b (3 MIU 3X/week) plus ribavirin (600-1200 mg/day) for 48 weeks. RESULTS: SVR was achieved in seven of 27 (26%) of genotype 1 patients versus nine of nine (100%) genotype 2/3 patients (P=0.0001). Early virologic response at week 12 was associated with permanent viral clearance. Side effects included cytopenia and acute hearing loss, but rate of therapy withdrawal and dose reduction was low. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy in patients with HCV reinfection after LT yields an excellent SVR rate in genotype 2/3 patients, but remains unsatisfactory in genotype 1 patients. Virologic response at week 12 (early virologic response) can determine whether therapy should be continued or not.