Liver transplantation in a patient coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus

Liver transplant outcomes in HIV-infected patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis with synthetic cohort

OBJECTIVES

The relative success of liver transplantation in those with HIV compared to HIV-uninfected individuals remains a point of intense debate. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of liver transplantation in HIV-hepatitis co-infected patients using a meta-analysis and individual patient data meta-analysis as a synthetic cohort.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, AIDSLINE (inception to 2010), AMED, CINAHL, TOXNET, Development and Reproductive Toxicology, Hazardous Substances Databank, Psych-info and relevant conferences. We included cohort studies and individual case-reports evaluating survival of co-infected transplant patients. We abstracted data on cohort and case demographics and outcomes. We pooled cohorts using a random-effects analysis and created a synthetic cohort of cases using individual patient data. We confirmed this with the pooled cohort analysis.

RESULTS

We included 15 cohort studies and 49 case series with individual patient data. At 12 months, 84.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 81.1-87.8%] of patients had survived. Within the HIV-infected population evaluated, HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection was associated with optimal survival. In an adjusted model, individuals positive for HBV were 8.28 (95% CI 2.26-30.33) times more likely to survive when compared to those without HBV. Further, individuals with an undetectable HIV viral load at the time of transplantation were 2.89 (95% CI 1.41-5.91) times more likely to survive when compared to those with detectable HIV viremia. Hepatitis C virus was not a predictor of patient survival when adjusted for by other key predictors [0.54 (95% CI 0.17-1.80)].

Liver transplant in patients with HIV: infection risk associated with HIV and post-transplant immunosuppression

Before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) had poor survival, mainly because of a rapid progression to AIDS and its infectious complications during the post-LT immunosuppression phase. However, in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, under some specific and well-determined conditions, LT might be as safe and efficacious in HIV patients as it is in non-HIV-infected patients. End-stage liver failure as caused by hepatitis B virus, cirrhosis, and hepatotoxicity should be considered indications for LT in every transplant center. Because of the almost universal hepatitis C virus reinfection and its accelerated course post-LT, LT in hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients deserves more caution and more extended follow-up before it is accepted as a standard indication for LT in HIV-infected patients.

Liver transplantation in HIV-positive patients

This article reviews the worldwide evolution of liver transplantation as a therapeutic intervention in HIV-infected patients. Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-positive individuals. The authors contrast survival data from pilot studies in the pre-HAART era to those data emerging from more recent trials. Particular emphasis is placed on current selection criteria for HIV-positive transplant candidates. Additional consideration is given to the effect of prolonged transplant waiting time on survival outcome. The complexity of the post-transplant medication regime, including drug interactions, optimal immunosuppression and most appropriate HAART regimes, are discussed in detail. Postoperative challenges including optimal management of hepatitis B virus and recurrent hepatitis C virus post-transplant are reviewed separately. The ethical and practical arguments relating to the use of a scarce and valuable resource in this population are debated. The authors conclude with several recommendations to assist pretransplant assessment and postoperative management of such complex patients and speculate on the direction and evolution of this field in the coming years.

[GESIDA/GESITRA-SEIMC, PNS and ONT consensus document on solid organ transplant (SOT) in HIV-infected patients in Spain (March, 2005)]

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.

Review article: current status of liver transplantation in HIV-infected patients

The increases in survival of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus is attributed to the introduction of combination human immunodeficiency virus antiviral therapy, better known as highly active anti-retroviral therapy. In fact, survival statistics have improved such that individuals often succumb to other disease entities, notably liver failure and not from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome complications. Liver transplantation has been introduction in this patient population in several centres around the world. This review will discuss the current clinical status of liver transplantation in individuals suffering from human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Liver transplantation in patients with HIV infection

1. Liver transplantation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with end-stage liver disease in the era of highly active retroviral therapy has proven to be an effective treatment. The concerns of HIV progression have not been borne out by the growing worldwide experience. 2. CD4 counts are stable and HIV viral load is controllable with medication following liver transplantation. 3. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in HIV-positive recipients is universal, but the severity of recurrence does not appear to be different from that in HIV-negative patients with HCV liver disease. 4. Complex pharmacokinetic interactions between the calcineurin inhibitors used for immunosuppression along with protease inhibitors are present, but management directed at recognizing the need for monitoring levels does not appear to increase the risk of toxicity. 5. The degree of immunosuppression from iatrogenic drug therapy and HIV does not lead to increased risk of infectious complications.

Trasplante hepático en pacientes con infección por el VIH: una realidad en el año 2004

According to current estimates, there are 60,000 to 80,000 HIV and HCV coinfected individuals in Spain, and 5,000 to 10,000 HIV and HBV coinfected individuals. Among these patients, 10% to 15% have liver cirrhosis. Thus, end-stage liver disease is one of the major causes of death in our country. Liver transplantation is the only therapeutic option for these patients. Accumulated experience in North America and Europe in the last five years indicates that three-year survival in HIV-positive liver transplant recipients is similar to that of HIV-negative recipients. The selection criteria for HIV transplant candidates includes the following: no history of opportunistic infections, CD4 lymphocyte count higher than 100 cells/mm3, and HIV viral load suppressible with antiretroviral treatment. In Spain, where the majority of patients are former drug abusers, complete abstinence from heroin or cocaine use during two years is also required, with the possibility of the patient being in a methadone program. To date 26 hepatic transplants have been performed in the same number of patients, with only two deaths (7%) after a median follow-up of eight months (1-28). The main problems in the post-transplantation period in all the series has been recurrent HCV infection, which is the principle cause of post-transplantation mortality, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between the antiretroviral and immunosuppressive agents. There is little experience with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment in this population.