Liver transplantation in a patient with hepatitis B, C and D coinfection associated with hepatocellular carcinoma: a management strategy for a rare condition. Case report

Sao Paulo Med J. 2015 Nov-Dec;133(6):525-30. doi: 10.1590/1516-3180.2015.8881501. Epub 2015 Jul 3.

Abstract

Context: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis due to hepatitis C infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide. However, patients who are given transplants because of viral liver diseases often present clinical coinfections, including hepatitis B together with hepatitis D. Currently, different strategies exist for patient management before and after liver transplantation, and these are based on different protocols developed by the specialized transplantation centers.

Case report: We present a rare case of a 58-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B, C and D coinfection. The patient developed cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. His treatment comprised antiviral therapy for the three viruses and OLT. The patient's outcome was satisfactory.

Conclusion: OLT, in association with antiviral therapy using entecavir, which was administered before and after transplantation, was effective for sustained clearance of the hepatitis B and D viruses. A recurrence of hepatitis C infection after transplantation responded successfully to standard treatment comprising peginterferon alfa-2A and ribavirin.

CONTEXTO:: O transplante ortotópico de fígado (TOF) é o tratamento de escolha em pacientes com doença hepática terminal. A cirrose por hepatite C é a principal indicação de transplante hepático no mundo. No entanto, pacientes transplantados por hepatopatias virais frequentemente apresentam coinfecções, como hepatite B associada a hepatite D. Atualmente, existem diferentes estratégias de manejo em pacientes pré e pós-transplantados conforme diferentes protocolos de conduta de serviços especializados em transplante.

RELATO DE CASO:: Apresentamos o raro caso de um homem de 58 anos diagnosticado com as hepatites crônicas B, C e D. O paciente evoluiu com cirrose e carcinoma hepatocelular. O tratamento consistiu de terapia antiviral para os três vírus e de transplante ortotópico de fígado. O desfecho do paciente foi satisfatório.

CONCLUSÃO:: O transplante ortotópico de fígado, associado à terapia antiviral com entecavir antes e após o procedimento, foi eficaz na depuração sustentada dos vírus B e D. A recidiva do vírus C após o transplante respondeu com sucesso ao tratamento padrão com alfapeginterferon 2A e ribavirina.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery*
  • Coinfection / drug therapy
  • Coinfection / surgery
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis B / surgery
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C / surgery
  • Hepatitis D / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis D / surgery
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a