Hepatitis C and liver transplantation

Nature. 2005 Aug 18;436(7053):973-8. doi: 10.1038/nature04083.

Abstract

Liver transplantation is a life-saving therapy to correct liver failure, portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma arising from hepatitis C infection. But despite the successful use of living donors and improvements in immunosuppression and antiviral therapy, organ demand continues to outstrip supply and recurrent hepatitis C with accelerated progression to cirrhosis of the graft is a frequent cause of graft loss and the need for retransplantation. Appropriate selection of candidates and timing of transplantation, coupled with better pre- and post-transplant antiviral therapy, are needed to improve outcomes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Liver Transplantation* / methods
  • Living Donors
  • Recurrence