Hepatitis: Rafecas A

Miró JM, Torre-Cisnero J, Moreno A, Tuset M, Quereda C, Laguno M, Vidal E, Rivero A, Gonzalez J, Lumbreras C, Iribarren JA, Fortún J, Rimola A, Rafecas A, Barril G, Crespo M, Colom J, Vilardell J, Salvador JA, Polo R, Garrido G, Chamorro L, Miranda B. · AIDS Study Group (GESIDA) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC). · Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. · Pubmed #15970168 links to  free full text

Abstract: Solid organ transplant may be the only therapeutic alternative in some HIV-infected patients. Experience in North America and Europe during the last five years shows that survival at three years after an organ transplant is similar to that observed in HIV-negative patients. The criteria agreed upon to select HIV patients for transplant are: no opportunistic infections (except tuberculosis, oesophageal candidiasis or P. jiroveci -previously carinii- pneumonia), CD4 lymphocyte count above 200 cells/.L (100 cells/.L in the case of liver transplant) and an HIV viral load which is undetectable or suppressible with antiretroviral therapy. Another criterion is a two-year abstinence from heroin and cocaine, although the patient may be in a methadone programme. The main problems in the post-transplant period are pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between antiretorivirals and immunosuppressors, rejection and the management of relapse of HCV infection, which is one of the main causes of post-liver transplant mortality. Up to now, experience with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is scarce in this population. The English version of the manuscript is available at http://www.gesidaseimc.com.

Lladó L, Fabregat J, Castellote J, Ramos E, Xiol X, Torras J, Serrano T, Baliellas C, Figueras J, Garcia-Gil A, Rafecas A, Anonymous00069. · Department of Surgery, Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain. · Liver Transpl. · Pubmed #19025919 No free full text.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a steroid-free immunosuppression on hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. A total of 198 liver transplantation (LT) patients were randomized to receive immunosuppression with basiliximab and cyclosporine, either with prednisone (steroid [St] group) or without prednisone (no steroids [NoSt] group). The group of 89 HCV-infected patients was followed up with protocol biopsies for 2 years after LT. This group of HCV patients are the patients evaluated in the present study. The rejection rate was 19% (St: 21% versus NoSt: 17%; P = 0.67). Patients in the St group had a slightly higher rate of bacterial infections (59% versus 38%; P = 0.05). Almost all patients had histological HCV-recurrence (St: 39/40 (97%) versus NoSt: 40/41 (97%); P = 1). The percentage of accumulated biopsies with grade 4 portal inflammation at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were, 23%, 49%, and 49% in the NoSt group, compared to 33%, 55%, and 69% in the St group, respectively (P = 0.04 at 2 years). The percentage of accumulated biopsies with grade 3 or 4 fibrosis at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 0%, 8%, and 22% in the NoSt group, compared to 8%, 19%, and 31% in the St group, respectively. Immunosuppression without steroids in HCV patients is safe, reduces bacterial infections and metabolic complications, and improves histological short-term evolution of HCV recurrence.

Lladó L, Xiol X, Figueras J, Ramos E, Memba R, Serrano T, Torras J, Garcia-Gil A, Gonzalez-Pinto I, Castellote J, Baliellas C, Fabregat J, Rafecas A, Anonymous00295. · Department of Surgery, Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, 08907 Barcelona, Spain. · J Hepatol. · Pubmed #16487622 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a steroid-free immunosuppression protocol. METHODS: From 2001 to 2004, 198 liver-transplant patients were randomized to receive immunosuppression with Basiliximab and cyclosporine, with (St Group) or without (NoSt Group) prednisone. The primary end points were acute rejection, and patient and graft survival. The secondary end points were infection, metabolic complications, and hepatitis C-virus recurrence. RESULTS: Overall rejection rate was 15%, with no differences (St: 13% vs NoSt: 18%; P=0.33). Infection rate was similar in both groups (St: 51% vs NoSt: 47%; P=0.56), but diabetic patients in the St Group had a significantly higher rate of bacterial infections (St: 54% vs NoSt: 14%; P=0.005). The six-month protocol biopsies showed hepatitis C recurrence in 90% of patients, without differences between groups. Hypertension was more frequent in the St Group (St: 44% vs NoSt: 25%; P=0.006). De novo diabetes rate was higher in the St Group (month 1: St: 29% vs NoSt: 18%; P=0.06), with higher glycatedHb (5.1+/-1.1 vs 4.4+/-0.8; P=0.002). Six-month survival rates were similar (St: 89% vs NoSt: 94%, P=0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppression without steroids is safe and reduces infection and metabolic complications.

Rafecas A, Rufí G, Figueras J, Fabregat J, Xiol X, Ramos E, Torras J, Lladó L, Serrano T. · Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. · Liver Transpl. · Pubmed #15376302 links to  free full text

Abstract: Until recently, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was considered an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation in Spain. We present the first 4 cases of liver transplantation (LT) carried out in our center in patients infected with HIV and coinfected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), immunosuppressed with cyclosporine A (CyA) and basiliximab, but without steroids. The 4 patients were male, with a mean age of 38.25 +/- 4.5 years. Mean time of HIV infection was 114 +/- 62.3 months and all patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HCV genotypes of the 4 patients were 4, 1b, 1b, and 1a. Two patients were classified as Child-Turcotte-Pugh C (10 and 11 points), 1 was B (8 points), and the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma was A (5 points). Immunosuppression consisted of basiliximab and monotherapy with CyA. There were no postoperative infections. With a follow-up of 17 +/- 8 months, all patients are alive. There was only 1 acute rejection episode, and this was solved with steroid pulses. Three patients showed HCV recurrence with enzymatic and histological changes and were treated with interferon and ribavirin. One patient had negative HCV-ribonucleic acid after 6 months of treatment. In conclusion, HIV infection should not be considered an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation. The evolution of this type of patients will probably depend on the HCV infection. Immunosuppression without steroids may reduce opportunistic infection.

Figueras J, Parés D, Munar-Qués M, Rafecas A, Casanovas-Taltavull T, Fabregat J, Xiol X, Torras J, Lama C, Lladó L, Jaurrieta E. · Unidad de Trasplante Hepático. Ciutat Sanitaria i Universitaria de Bellvitge. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona. Spain. · Gastroenterol Hepatol. · Pubmed #11975868 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In domino liver transplantation (LT), the explanted liver of a patient with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is donated to another patient. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between February 1999 and March 2001 we performed 131 LT with 121 cadaveric donors in our unit. Ten domino LTs were performed. RESULTS: Patients with FAP were younger (37 years) than recipients of the second LT (64 years). The evolution of patients undergoing transplantation for FAP was excellent and all are currently alive and without complications. Among recipients of the second LT, one patient died in the postoperative period. A further two patients died from tumoral recurrence and hepatitis C virus recurrence 18 months and 9 months after transplantation, respectively. The remaining patients have shown no symptoms of FAP during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that domino LT is technically feasible. The technique increases the number of grafts without apparent risk either to the recipient with FAP or to the recipient of the latter's explanted liver.

Jaurrieta E, Casais L, Figueras J, Ramos E, Lama C, Rafecas A, Casanovas Taltavull T, Fabregat J, Xiol X, Torras J, Baliellas C, Sabaté A, Rufí G, Benasco C, Casanovas T, Serrano T, Gil-Vernet S, Sabaté I, Busquets J. · Unidad de Trasplante Hepático. Ciudad Sanitaria y Universitaria de Bellvitge. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona. · Med Clin (Barc). · Pubmed #11141377 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: We present the experience of the liver transplantation program at the Hospital of Bellvitge with 500 transplantations performed during 15 years, to describe changes in liver transplantation observed throughout the time and to analyze the long term results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Five groups each one including 100 consecutive transplantations are studied. RESULTS: The main indications were hepatocellular carcinoma (23%), alcoholic cirrhosis (22.8%), and post-hepatitis C cirrhosis (18.8%). Sixty-five retransplantations were performed in 59 patients (13%), being the more frequent indications arterial thrombosis (13 patients) and primary nonfunction of graft (10 patients). In 10 patients a hepatorenal transplantation was performed. In group I, the most frequent donor cause of death was cranial traumatism (80%), while in group V it was the vascular pathology (52%). There were other significative differences between these groups of patients (I vs V): patients with stage 2 or 3 from UNOS status (45 vs 19%), blood use (29.6 [26] vs 4.6 [5.3] PRBC), ICU stay (13 [13] vs 7.4 [11] days), hospital stay (40 [52] vs 23.7 [17] days), rejection rate (46 vs 20%) and primary graft nonfunction (9 vs 3%). However, the infection rates (48 vs 54.5%) and biliary tract complications (26 vs 20%) have not shown statistically significant differences. Actuarial one and 5-year survival are 83 and 70% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An important and progressive improvement of liver transplantation results has been observed. However, de novo tumours, hepatitis C virus recurrence and chronic rejection can limit long term results.