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Hepatitis C: Current Controversies and Future Potential in Solid Organ Transplantation

Current Infectious Disease Reports volume 20, Article number: 18 (2018) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To highlight the changing landscape of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the context of organ transplantation. This focuses on areas of controversy and future potential in the era of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents.

Recent Findings

Since the advent of safe and highly effective DAA therapy, HCV infection is now curable in virtually all cases, including organ transplant recipients. Excellent drug tolerability and safety combined with high cure rates across all organ groups means that HCV is no longer a barrier to transplantation or its outcomes. Mounting data demonstrate the safety of using organs from HCV-infected donors with subsequent treatment of HCV in the recipient and a potential to expand the donor pool.

Summary

Historical data demonstrating inferior survival in transplant recipients with HCV is of limited relevance in the DAA era. Virtually all transplant recipients with HCV infection can be cured, while early data also suggest excellent outcomes in recipients of organs from HCV viremic donors. The optimal timing of HCV therapy in relation to transplantation and the optimal use of organs from HCV viremic donors remain areas of controversy and ongoing research efforts.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alberta, CSB 1-139, 11350 83 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G3, Canada

    Lucy Somerville & Karen Doucette

Authors
  1. Lucy Somerville
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  2. Karen Doucette
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Correspondence to Karen Doucette.

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Lucy Somerville and Karen Doucette declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Transplant and Oncology

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Somerville, L., Doucette, K. Hepatitis C: Current Controversies and Future Potential in Solid Organ Transplantation. Curr Infect Dis Rep 20, 18 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-018-0625-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-018-0625-x

Keywords

  • Hepatitis C
  • Liver transplant
  • Kidney transplant
  • Lung transplant
  • Heart transplant
  • Organ donation