The expansion of treatment after liver transplantation in patients with recurrent hepatitis C may enjoy

The expansion of the treatment of hepatitis C in liver transplant patients beyond the practical results of the current high rate of clearance of hepatitis C in blood, and the study of relapse low after Henry Ford Hospital. "We found that patients who had a rate of sustained viral response have generally had extensive treatment," says Kimberly Brown, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology at Henry Ford Hospital and lead author of the study.

"In addition, chronic treatment of 52 weeks after the virus-negative patients, led to a recurrence rate of only 8 per cent." This is in contrast with typical recurrence rate of 30-35 percent among non-transplanted patients treated with standard therapy.

The results of the study during an oral presentation at the October 31st American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting in Boston reported.

In the study, was 241 times in a row, and liver transplant patients 1999-2006. Patients received treatment if they test positive hepatitis C, hepatitis C was always accompanied by at least Phase I, fibrosis on biopsy and stable immunosuppression for a minimum stay of three months. Patients received either non-pegylated interferon or pegylated interferon TIW in the week in combination with ribavirin.

The study in patients with hepatitis C, 66 were eligible for treatment, and 22 achieved sustained virological response. Only two patients (8 percent) behind.

After 24 weeks of treatment, 35 percent of patients achieved a sustained virological response was virus-negative.

"These results challenge previous studies represent the" proposed stopping rules "in the weeks 12 and 24, if there is no response to inferferon and ribravirin," said Mr. Brown. "Our results suggest that even when patients have positive after 24 weeks, there is a 35 percent chance they can sustained viral clearance. We believe that this can be advantageous for treatment beyond the standard 48 weeks for a total. extend "

According to the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services, has conducted more than 16,000 liver transplants have been last year and currently there are nearly 18,000 Americans on the list for liver transplants.