Vasuri F, Morelli MC, Gruppioni E, Fiorentino M, Ercolani G, Cescon M, Pinna AD, Grigioni WF, D'Errico-Grigioni A. The meaning of tissue and serum HCV RNA quantitation in hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation: a retrospective study.
Dig Liver Dis 2013;
45:505-9. [PMID:
23317815 DOI:
10.1016/j.dld.2012.11.015]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Revised: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
While the role of serum HCV RNA quantitation in hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation is well established, the meaning of HCV RNA tissue quantitation is largely unclear, and no correlations with recipient outcome have been investigated yet.
AIMS
To assess the predictive value, and a possible prognostic role, of tissue and serum HCV RNA in first post-transplant biopsies.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the first post-transplant biopsies of 83 recipients. Tissue and serum HCV RNA was quantitated by RT-PCR, and compared with serum, clinical and histological data.
RESULTS
HCV RNA quantitation allowed us to categorise recipients into three different risk groups: (1) tissue HCV RNA ≤ 1.5 IU/ng with any serum HCV RNA; (2) tissue HCV RNA>1.5 IU/ng and serum HCV RNA < 40 × 10(6)copies/mL; (3) tissue HCV RNA>1.5 IU/ng and serum HCV RNA ≥ 40 × 10(6)copies/mL. Hepatitis C virus recurrence rates in the three groups were 68%, 91% and 100% (P=0.004); hepatitis C virus-related mortality was 0%, 14% and 45% respectively (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study on serum and tissue HCV RNA quantitation allows recipient "stratification" in prognostic groups, which could be applicable in the future for timely antiviral treatment and/or immunosuppression modulation.
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