Treatment of hepatitis C in liver transplant patients: interferon out, direct antiviral combos in

The art of managing hepatitis C virus in special population groups: a paradigm shift

The first direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications were approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 2011. Later, the appearance of novel DAAs had revolutionized the landscape of HCV treatment whose early treatment options were limited to interferon (IFN) either alone or in combinations. This review discusses the paradigm shift in legibility for treating different groups of patients with HCV after the introduction of DAAs, along with the consequent changes in treatment guidelines. IFN-based therapy was the firstly used for treating chronic HCV. Unfortunately, it exhibited many pitfalls, such as low efficacy in some patients and unsuitability for usage in lots of patients with some specific conditions, which could be comorbidities such as autoimmune thyroiditis, or liver related as in decompensated cirrhosis. Furthermore, IFN failed to treat all the extrahepatic manifestations of HCV. Nowadays, the breakthroughs brought by DAAs have benefited the patients and enabled the treatment of those who could not be treated or did not usually respond well to IFN. DAAs achieve a high success rate of HCV eradication in addition to avoiding unfavorable harms and, sometimes, adverse effects related to the previously used PEGylated IFN regimens.

Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are safe and effective in treatment of recurrent hepatitis C virus in Egyptian patients underwent living donor liver transplantation

Background

Liver transplant population has been considered as a special population in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, not only because of lower sustained virological response (SVR) rates in comparison with pretransplant setting, but also for other aspects (i.e., immunosuppressive therapy, renal function, drug–drug interactions). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C following transplantation and screening for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma during treatment, after the end of treatment, or during follow-up. This multicenteric prospective study was conducted in Egypt. This study included 40 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation that started treatment at least 3 months following transplantation. All participants received 400 mg sofosbuvir once daily plus daclatasvir 60 mg daily ± ribavirin. Treatment lasted for up to 24 weeks, and participants were followed up as outpatients monthly for 12 and 24 weeks and 36 weeks post-treatment to determine sustained virological response (SVR12 and SVR24), considered to be a cure and detection of any changes in tumor markers or radiological imaging during follow-up.

Results

In the current study, 40 patients (100%) have good response to treatment during treatment and during follow-up (SVR 12 was 100%). No abnormal side effects to treatment were detected; also, no drug–drug interactions were noted during the treatment.

Conclusions

Treatment of HCV after living donor liver transplantation with combined sofosbuvir and daclatasvir is safe and well-tolerated and provides high rates of SVR.

Development of Duodenal Ulcers due to the Discontinuation of Proton Pump Inhibitors After the Induction of Sofosbuvir Plus Ledipasvir Therapy: A Report of Two Cases

Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (SOF-LDV) combination therapy is a promising therapy for post-transplant hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection. It is known that gastric pH elevation induces lower absorption of ledipasvir; therefore, the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) should be considered regarding dose reduction after SOF-LDV therapy induction. Here, we report two patients who developed duodenal ulcers due to the discontinuation of PPIs after the induction of SOF-LDV therapy for post-transplant HCV reinfection. The first patient was a 71-year-old man who had undergone living donor liver transplantation due to HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Lansoprazole, 30 mg daily, was discontinued upon SOF-LDV therapy induction. Seven days after SOF-LDV therapy induction, gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the presence of a duodenal ulcer. The second patient was a 54-year-old man who had undergone living donor liver transplantation due to HCV-related end-stage liver disease. Similar to the first patient, rabeprazole sodium was discontinued upon the induction of SOF-LDV therapy. Eighteen days after SOF-LDV therapy induction, gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the presence of a duodenal ulcer. In both cases, these duodenal ulcers improved after the resumption of the administration of PPIs, and a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks was achieved by SOF-LDV therapy with PPI use. Thus, PPI use should be continued consistently during SOF-LDV therapy for post-transplant HCV reinfection.

Long-term outcomes of direct acting antivirals in post-transplant advanced hepatitis C virus recurrence and fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis

Long-term functional outcomes of sofosbuvir-based antiviral treatment were evaluated in a cohort study involving 16 Italian centres within the international compassionate use programme for post-transplant hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. Seventy-three patients with cirrhosis (n=52) or fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH, n=21) received 24-week sofosbuvir with ribavirin±pegylated interferon or interferon-free sofosbuvir-based regimen with daclatasvir/simeprevir+ribavirin. The patients were observed for a median time of 103 (82-112) weeks. Twelve of 73 (16.4%) died (10 non-FCH, 2 FCH) and two underwent re-LT. Sustained virological response was achieved in 46 of 66 (69.7%): 31 of 47 (66%) non-FCH and 15 of 19 (79%) FCH patients. All relapsers were successfully retreated. Comparing the data of baseline with last follow-up, MELD and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores improved both in non-FCH (15.3±6.5 vs 10.5±3.8, P<.0001 and 8.4±2.1 vs 5.7±1.3, P<.0001, respectively) and FCH (17.3±5.9 vs 10.1±2.8, P=.001 and 8.2±1.6 vs 5.5±1, P=.001, respectively). Short-treatment mortality was higher in patients with baseline MELD≥25 than in those with MELD<25 (42.9% vs 4.8%, P=.011). Long-term mortality was 53.3% among patients with baseline MELD≥20 and 7.5% among those with MELD<20 (P<.0001). Among deceased patients 75% were Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C at baseline, while among survivors 83.9% were class A or B (P<.0001). Direct acting antivirals-based treatments for severe post-transplant hepatitis C recurrence, comprising fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis, significantly improve liver function, even without viral clearance and permit an excellent long-term survival. The setting of severe HCV recurrence may require the identification of "too-sick-to-treat patients" to avoid futile treatments.

Predictors of hepatitis C virus recurrence after living donor liver transplantation: Mansoura experience

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis is the leading cause of liver transplantation (LT). All patients who undergo LT with detectable serum HCV-RNA experience graft reinfection, which is the most frequent cause of graft loss and death in these patients. We estimated the rate of HCV recurrence and evaluated the current therapeutic regimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of consecutive 325 living donor LT (LDLT) surgeries performed between May 2004 and August 2014 were retrospectively analysed; 207 of them were followed-up throughout the study. Clinical, laboratory, radiological and histopathological examinations were performed thoroughly. Patients received treatment in the form of either pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) or sofosbuvir, both in combination with ribavirin.

RESULTS

In total, 90.3% of recipients who were transplanted because of HCV-related end-stage liver disease experienced recurrence due to the virus. The donor age was older in the HCV recurrent group versus the non-recurrence group (28.7±7.1 versus 22.6±2.6years: p≤0.001), warm ischaemia time was prolonged (46.1±18.1 versus 28.6±4.1min: p≤0.001), median cold ischaemia time was 40.0 (10-175) versus 22.5 (15-38) min (p≤0.001) and basal PCR was 414000 (546-116000000) versus 10766 (1230-40000) (p≤0.001). Sustained virological response was achieved in 95.4% of patients treated with a combination of a fixed daily dose of 400mg sofosbuvir with ribavirin and in 65.1% of those who were treated with PEG-IFN with ribavirin.

CONCLUSIONS

Older donor age and prolonged warm ischaemia time are independent predictors of HCV recurrence after LDLT, and early treatment with the direct-acting sofosbuvir is helpful in resolving the problem of post-LT HCV recurrence.

Entry Inhibitors: A Perspective for Prevention of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Organ Transplantation

Entry inhibitors are emerging as an attractive class of therapeutics for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Entry inhibitors target either virion-associated factors or cellular factors necessary for infection. By blocking entry into cells, entry inhibitors prevent both the establishment of persistent reservoirs and the emergence of resistant variants during viral replication. Furthermore, entry inhibitors protect naïve cells from virus-induced alterations. Combining entry inhibitors with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) may therefore improve treatment outcomes, particularly in the context of organ transplantation. The role of DAAs in transplantation, while still under clinical investigation, carries the risk of recipient infection and HCV-induced disease, since DAAs act only after infection is established. Thus, entry inhibitors provide a perspective to improve patient outcomes during organ transplantation. Applying this approach for transplant of organs from HCV-positive donors to HCV-negative recipients may also contribute to alleviate the medical burden of organ shortage.

Successful Continuation of HCV Treatment After Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend that patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease be treated for HCV before liver transplant (LT) to eliminate the virus before surgery. However, the unpredictability of donor organ availability may limit treatment duration. Interruption of HCV treatment with resumption post-LT is 1 potential solution which has not been investigated widely.

METHODS

Patients from 5 clinical centers included in the large, national, noninterventional Hepa-C registry who started treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents while awaiting LT were identified retrospectively and followed up prospectively. Fifteen patients who had treatment interruptions around LT were identified.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (12/15) received interferon-free regimens, most commonly sofosbuvir + daclatasvir (8/12), for a total of 24 weeks (13/15). Treatment was discontinued temporarily for a median of 5 (range, 2-33) days. Fourteen patients completing 12 weeks of follow-up achieved a sustained virological response. One patient who died before week 12 posttreatment achieved a response at posttreatment week 4. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Serious adverse events were recorded in 2 of 15 patients (anaemia in 1 patient; pneumonia in 1 patient); all arose after LT.

CONCLUSIONS

Resumption of direct-acting antiviral agent therapy after a temporary interruption around LT was highly effective, achieving sustained virological response in all patients who completed 12 weeks of posttreatment follow-up. Treatment was generally well tolerated pretransplantation and posttransplantation, with a low rate of serious adverse events. Such a strategy may offer an important new approach to the treatment of patients awaiting LT which may be assessed in future studies.

Hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic RNA virus that causes progressive liver damage, which might result in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Globally, between 64 and 103 million people are chronically infected. Major risk factors for this blood-borne virus infection are unsafe injection drug use and unsterile medical procedures (iatrogenic infections) in countries with high HCV prevalence. Diagnostic procedures include serum HCV antibody testing, HCV RNA measurement, viral genotype and subtype determination and, lately, assessment of resistance-associated substitutions. Various direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have become available, which target three proteins involved in crucial steps of the HCV life cycle: the NS3/4A protease, the NS5A protein and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B protein. Combination of two or three of these DAAs can cure (defined as a sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment) HCV infection in >90% of patients, including populations that have been difficult to treat in the past. As long as a prophylactic vaccine is not available, the HCV pandemic has to be controlled by treatment-as-prevention strategies, effective screening programmes and global access to treatment.

An HCV-positive recipient of an HCV-positive donor liver successfully treated before and immediately after liver transplant with daclatasvir, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin

This case suggests that initiation of HCV therapy immediately after liver transplantation with well‐tolerated, all‐oral regimens may achieve a virologic cure in HCV‐positive recipients, thus preventing post‐transplant HCV recurrence and associated disease progression. This strategy may broaden utilization of HCV‐positive donor livers, potentially including HCV‐negative transplant recipients.

Succinct guide to liver transplantation for medical students

Literature on liver transplantation for use in medical education is limited and as yet unsatisfactory. The aim of this article is to help medical students gain enough insight into the reality of being a liver transplant recipient. This is crucial so in the future they can feel confident in approaching these patients with adequate knowledge and confidence. The knowledge-tree based learning core topics are designed for a 2-h class including indication/contraindication in the real-world setting, model for end stage liver disease scoring and organ allocation policy, liver transplantation for hepatic malignancy, transplantation surgery, immunosuppression strategy in practical consideration, and management of viral hepatitis. The rationales of each topic are discussed comprehensively for better understanding by medical students. Recipient candidates may have reversible contraindications that halt the surgery temporarily and therefore, it warrants re-evaluation before transplant. Organ allocation policy is primarily based on disease severity instead of waiting time. Transplant surgery usually involves resection of the whole liver, in situ implantation with reconstruction of the hepatic vein, the portal vein, the hepatic artery and the biliary duct in sequence. The primary goal of artificial immunosuppression is to prevent graft rejection, and the secondary one is to reduce its complication or side effects. Life-long oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogues against hepatitis virus B is needed while short course of direct acting agents against hepatitis viral C is enough to eradicate the virus. Basic understanding of the underlying rationales will help students prepare for advanced learning and cope with the recipients confidently in the future.

Daclatasvir with sofosbuvir and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus infection with advanced cirrhosis or post-liver transplantation recurrence

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with advanced cirrhosis or post-liver transplantation recurrence represents a high unmet medical need with no approved therapies effective across all HCV genotypes. The open-label ALLY-1 study assessed the safety and efficacy of a 60-mg once-daily dosage of daclatasvir (pan-genotypic NS5A inhibitor) in combination with sofosbuvir at 400 mg once daily (NS5B inhibitor) and ribavirin at 600 mg/day for 12 weeks with a 24-week follow-up in two cohorts of patients with chronic HCV infection of any genotype and either compensated/decompensated cirrhosis or posttransplantation recurrence. Patients with on-treatment transplantation were eligible to receive 12 additional weeks of treatment immediately after transplantation. The primary efficacy measure was sustained virologic response at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12) in patients with a genotype 1 infection in each cohort. Sixty patients with advanced cirrhosis and 53 with posttransplantation recurrence were enrolled; HCV genotypes 1 (76%), 2, 3, 4, and 6 were represented. Child-Pugh classifications in the advanced cirrhosis cohort were 20% A, 53% B, and 27% C. In patients with cirrhosis, 82% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.9%-92.0%) with genotype 1 infection achieved SVR12, whereas the corresponding rates in those with genotypes 2, 3, and 4 were 80%, 83%, and 100%, respectively; SVR12 rates were higher in patients with Child-Pugh class A or B, 93%, versus class C, 56%. In transplant recipients, SVR12 was achieved by 95% (95% CI, 83.5%-99.4%) and 91% of patients with genotype 1 and 3 infection, respectively. Three patients received peritransplantation treatment with minimal dose interruption and achieved SVR12. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The pan-genotypic combination of daclatasvir, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin was safe and well tolerated. High SVR rates across multiple HCV genotypes were achieved by patients with post-liver transplantation recurrence or advanced cirrhosis.

Liver Retransplantation in Patients With HIV-1 Infection: An International Multicenter Cohort Study

Liver retransplantation is performed in HIV-infected patients, although its outcome is not well known. In an international cohort study (eight countries), 37 (6%; 32 coinfected with hepatitis C virus [HCV] and five with hepatitis B virus [HBV]) of 600 HIV-infected patients who had undergone liver transplant were retransplanted. The main indications for retransplantation were vascular complications (35%), primary graft nonfunction (22%), rejection (19%), and HCV recurrence (13%). Overall, 19 patients (51%) died after retransplantation. Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 56%, 51%, and 51%, respectively. Among patients with HCV coinfection, HCV RNA replication status at retransplantation was the only significant prognostic factor. Patients with undetectable versus detectable HCV RNA had a survival probability of 80% versus 39% at 1 year and 80% versus 30% at 3 and 5 years (p = 0.025). Recurrence of hepatitis C was the main cause of death in the latter. Patients with HBV coinfection had survival of 80% at 1, 3, and 5 years after retransplantation. HIV infection was adequately controlled with antiretroviral therapy. In conclusion, liver retransplantation is an acceptable option for HIV-infected patients with HBV or HCV coinfection but undetectable HCV RNA. Retransplantation in patients with HCV replication should be reassessed prospectively in the era of new direct antiviral agents.

Management of immunosuppressant agents following liver transplantation: Less is more

Immunosuppression in organ transplantation was revolutionary for its time, but technological and population changes cast new light on its use. First, metabolic syndrome (MS) is increasing as a public health issue, concomitantly increasing as an issue for post-orthotopic liver transplantation patients; yet the medications regularly used for immunosuppression contribute to dysfunctional metabolism. Current mainstay immunosuppression involves the use of calcineurin inhibitors; these are potent, but nonspecifically disrupt intracellular signaling in such a way as to exacerbate the impact of MS on the liver. Second, the impacts of acute cellular rejection and malignancy are reviewed in terms of their severity and possible interactions with immunosuppressive medications. Finally, immunosuppressive agents must be considered in terms of new developments in hepatitis C virus treatment, which undercut what used to be inevitable viral recurrence. Overall, while traditional immunosuppressive agents remain the most used, the specific side-effect profiles of all immunosuppressants must be weighed in light of the individual patient.

Tolerability and effectiveness of sofosbuvir and simeprevir in the post-transplant setting: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Outcome data on simeprevir and sofosbuvir (SMV+SOF) in patients with liver transplantation (LT) with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) are limited with individual studies having a small sample size and limited SVR12 (sustained virological response) data. Our goal was to perform a meta-analysis to study the outcome of SMV+SOF±ribavirin (RBV) in recipients with LT.

METHODS

In April 2015, we conducted a literature search for 'simeprevir' in MEDLINE/EMBASE and five major liver meetings. We included studies with SVR12 data in ≥5 post-LT mono-infected HCV-1 patients treated with SMV+SOF±RBV. We used random-effects models to estimate effect sizes, and the Cochrane Q-test (p value <0.10) with I(2) (>50%) to assess study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

We included nine studies with a total of 325 patients with post-LT. Studies included mostly men (59-81%). Pooled SVR12 was 88.0% (95% CI 83.4% to 91.5%). In two studies, HCV-1a patients with mild fibrosis (n=108) had an SVR12 rate of 95.0% (95% CI 82.4% to 98.7%), which was significantly higher than that of HCV-1a patients with advanced fibrosis (n=49) with an SVR12 rate of 81.7% (95% CI 69.8% to 89.5%), OR 4.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 16.1, p=0.03). The most common pooled side effects were: fatigue 21% (n=48/237), headache 9% (n=23/254), dermatological symptoms 15% (n=38/254), and gastrointestinal symptoms 6% (12/193).

CONCLUSIONS

SMV+SOF±RBV is safe and effective in recipients with LT with HCV-1 infection.

Efficacy of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin with or without peginterferon-alfa in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3 infection and treatment-experienced patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus genotype 2 infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We conducted an open-label, randomized, phase 3 trial to determine the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and ribavirin, with and without peginterferon-alfa, in treatment-experienced patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 infection and treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 3 infection.

METHODS

The study was conducted at 80 sites in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups given sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 16 weeks (n = 196); sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 24 weeks (n = 199); or sofosbuvir, peginterferon-alfa, and ribavirin for 12 weeks (n = 197). The primary end point was the percentage of patients with HCV RNA <15 IU/mL 12 weeks after stopping therapy (sustained virologic response [SVR12]). From October 2013 until April 2014, we enrolled and treated 592 patients-48 with genotype 2 HCV and compensated cirrhosis who had not achieved SVR with previous treatments and 544 with genotype 3 HCV (279 treatment-naïve and 265 previously treated). Overall, 219 patients (37%) had compensated cirrhosis. The last post-treatment week 12 patient visit was in January 2015.

RESULTS

Rates of SVR12 among patients with genotype 2 HCV were 87% and 100%, for those receiving 16 and 24 weeks of sofosbuvir and ribavirin, respectively, and 94% for those receiving sofosbuvir, peginterferon, and ribavirin for 12 weeks. Rates of SVR12 among patients with genotype 3 HCV were 71% and 84% in those receiving 16 and 24 weeks of sofosbuvir and ribavirin, respectively, and 93% in those receiving sofosbuvir, peginterferon, and ribavirin. On-treatment virologic failure occurred in 3 patients with HCV genotype 3a receiving sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 24 weeks. The most common adverse events were fatigue, headache, insomnia, and nausea. Overall, 1% of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with genotype 3 HCV infection, including a large proportion of treatment-experienced patients with cirrhosis, the combination of sofosbuvir, peginterferon, and ribavirin for 12 weeks produces high rates of SVR. Treatment-experienced patients with cirrhosis and genotype 2 HCV infection had high rates of SVR in all groups. EudraCT ID 2013-002641-11.

Slower Fibrosis Progression Among Liver Transplant Recipients With Sustained Virological Response After Hepatitis C Treatment

Background

The natural course of hepatic fibrosis in HCV allograft recipients with sustained virological response (SVR) after anti-HCV therapy remains debatable. The aim of this study was to examine the progression of fibrosis in a cohort of patients who achieved SVR compared with those without treatment.

Methods

The 167 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen from a transplant database. All patients were required to have histological evidence of recurrent HCV infection post-liver transplantation and a follow-up biopsy. The 140 of these patients had received anti-viral therapy. Twenty-seven patients were identified as controls and were matched with the treatment group in all respects. The patients were categorized into four groups based on treatment response: 1) no treatment (control) (n = 27); 2) non-responders (n = 81); 3) relapsers (n = 32); and 4) SVR (n = 27). The endpoint was the stage of fibrosis on the follow-up liver biopsy.

Results

The treated and untreated groups were similar in clinical characteristics at the time of transplantation and prior to the initiation of treatment. The 72% of the cohort showed a fibrosis progression of ≥ 1 stage; this change did not significantly differ between the patient groups. Nonetheless, the fibrosis progression rate was the highest in the untreated group and lowest in the patients who achieved SVR. A coefficient of determination was used. Improvements in fibrosis scores were found with greater treatment duration. These improvements were most evident with the achievement of SVR.

Conclusions

In conclusion, SVR after anti-viral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C infection post-transplantation was associated with slower fibrosis progression and significantly improved graft survival.

Prednisolone does not affect direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C, but inhibits interferon-alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection compromises long-term outcomes of liver transplantation. Although glucocorticosteroid-based immunosuppression is commonly used, discussion is ongoing on the effect of prednisolone (Pred) on HCV recurrence and response to antiviral therapy post transplantation. Recently, new drugs (direct-acting antivirals) have been approved for the treatment of HCV, however, it remains unknown whether their antiviral activity is affected by Pred. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Pred on the antiviral activity of asunaprevir (Asu), daclatasvir (Dac), ribavirin (RBV), and interferon-alpha (IFN-α), and on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs), the main IFN-α-producing immune cells.

METHODS

The effects of Pred and antiviral compounds were tested in both a subgenomic and infectious HCV replication model. Furthermore, effects were tested on human PDCs stimulated with a Toll-like receptor-7 ligand.

RESULT

Pred did not directly affect HCV replication and did not inhibit the antiviral action of Asu, Dac, RBV, or IFN-α. Stimulated PDCs potently suppressed HCV replication. This suppression was reversed by treating PDCs with Pred. Pred significantly decreased IFN-α production by PDCs without affecting cell viability. When Asu and Dac were combined with PDCs, a significant cooperative antiviral effect was observed.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that Pred acts on the antiviral function of PDCs. Pred does not affect the antiviral action of Asu, Dac, RBV, or IFN-α. This implies that there is no contraindication to combine antiviral therapies with Pred in the post-transplantation management of HCV recurrence.