Post-liver transplant hepatitis C virus recurrence: An unresolved thorny problem

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis represents the leading cause of liver transplantation in developed, Western and Eastern countries. Unfortunately, liver transplantation does not cure recipient HCV infection: reinfection universally occurs and disease progression is faster after liver transplant. In this review we focus on what happens throughout the peri-transplant phase and in the first 6-12 mo after transplantation: during this crucial period a completely new balance between HCV, liver graft, the recipient’s immune response and anti-rejection therapy is achieved that will deeply affect subsequent outcomes. Nearly all patients show an early graft reinfection, with HCV viremia reaching and exceeding pre-transplant levels; in this setting, histological assessment is essential to differentiate recurrent hepatitis C from acute or chronic rejection; however, differentiating the two patterns remains difficult. The host immune response (mainly cellular mediated) appears to be crucial both in the control of HCV infection and in the genesis of rejection, and it is also strongly influenced by immunosuppressive treatment. At present no clear immunosuppressive strategy could be strongly recommended in HCV-positive recipients to prevent HCV recurrence, even immunotherapy appears to be ineffective. Nonetheless it seems reasonable that episodes of rejection and over-immunosuppression are more likely to enhance the risk of HCV recurrence through immunological mechanisms. Both complete prevention of rejection and optimization of immunosuppression should represent the main goals towards reducing the rate of graft HCV reinfection. In conclusion, post-transplant HCV recurrence remains an unresolved, thorny problem because many factors remain obscure and need to be better determined.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Liver transplantation; Hepatitis C antigens; Graft rejection; Immunosuppression

Core tip: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) graft reinfection universally occurs post-liver transplantation and disease progression is accelerated. Differentiating recurrent hepatitis from rejection is essential in this setting; however, differentiation of the two pathological patterns remains difficult. The host immune response appears to be crucial both in the control of HCV infection and in the genesis of rejection: complete prevention of rejection and optimization of immunosuppression should represent the main goals. A proper graft allocation seems to be crucial to realize an ideal donor-to-recipient matching; however, many factors remain obscure.