Acute liver graft cellular rejection after interferon-free antiviral treatment for HCV infection. Is there a risk? A warning about three cases

Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2019 Jan-Mar;82(1):53-56.

Abstract

All patients transplanted for hepatitis C (HCV)- related cirrhosis will experience a recurrence of the viral disease on the liver graft with an accelerated course of the disease and a progression to advanced liver fibrosis in up to 50% of the patients at 5 years post-liver transplantation. HCV infection is a high risk for graft lost. We report here three cases of patients transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma on HCV-related cirrhosis. All cases experienced an acute cellular rejection after the end of HCV therapy with direct acting antivirals (DAAs). We thus advocate for a close monitoring of tacrolimus and liver tests even a few months after the end of the treatment. Clinicians using DAAs after liver transplantation should be aware of the dynamics of tacrolimus levels during therapy and immunological changes that can occur even several weeks (or months) after the end of DAA treatment.

Keywords: direct acting antivirals; hepatitis C; liver transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Graft Rejection*
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • RNA, Viral