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Contemporary Liver Transplantation pp 247–254Cite as

Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A New Era

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Part of the book series: Organ and Tissue Transplantation ((OTT))

Abstract

Rapid and dramatic advances in development of the modern generation of direct antiviral agents specific for hepatitis C have occurred over the last 3 years. In this chapter, we discuss the applications of the new antiviral agents to patients with hepatitis C infection relevant to liver transplantation, namely, those with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to HCV, and in liver transplant recipients with recurrent HCV. The limits of applicability of the new direct antiviral agents (DAAs) are reviewed, as well as the new issues raised by the high rates of HCV cure. The global impact of high cure rates of HCV has not yet been fully appreciated. Access to the new antiviral agents and diagnosing the large numbers of patients currently unaware of this infection are clearly now the major challenges, rather than discovering new agents to optimizing cure rates. Liver transplantation for HCV and HCV-related HCC is likely to remain at current levels for the rest of the decade, but recipients and allografts are likely to enjoy a much longer useful life following HCV eradication with DAAs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Liver Transplant Program, Section of Hepatology, Hahnemann University Hospital, Drexel College of Medicine, 245 N. 15th Street, New College Building, 12th Floor, Room 12318, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA

    Santiago J. Munoz & Kenneth D. Rothstein

  2. Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster, 2104 Harrisburg Pike, Suite 300, Lancaster, PA, 17604, USA

    Alexandra L. Gibas

Authors
  1. Santiago J. Munoz
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  2. Kenneth D. Rothstein
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  3. Alexandra L. Gibas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Santiago J. Munoz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplant Surgery, Director, Jefferson Transplant Institute, Director, Division of Transplantation, Surgical Director, Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Liver Tumor Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Cataldo Doria

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Munoz, S.J., Rothstein, K.D., Gibas, A.L. (2017). Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A New Era. In: Doria, C. (eds) Contemporary Liver Transplantation. Organ and Tissue Transplantation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07209-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07209-8_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-07208-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-07209-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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