Basic Research
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2006; 12(5): 697-702
Published online Feb 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i5.697
Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus in patients with HCV infection after liver transplantation: Effects on virus replication and recurrent hepatitis
Philip Hilgard, Alisan Kahraman, Nils Lehmann, Cornelia Seltmann, Susanne Beckebaum, R Stefan Ross, Hideo A Baba, Massimo Malago, Christoph E Broelsch, Guido Gerken
Philip Hilgard, Alisan Kahraman, Susanne Beckebaum, Guido Gerken, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Nils Lehmann, Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Cornelia Seltmann, Susanne Beckebaum, Massimo Malago, Christoph E Broelsch, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
R Stefan Ross, Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Hideo A Baba, Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Correspondence to: Dr Philip Hilgard, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Gastroenterologie and Hepatologie, Hufelandstraße 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. philip.hilgard@uni-essen.de.
Telephone: +49-201-723-3618 Fax: +49-201-723-5970
Received: June 8, 2005
Revised: June 28, 2005
Accepted: July 8, 2005
Published online: February 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To determine the effects of the calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporine and tacrolimus, on hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and activity of recurrent hepatitis C in patients post liver transplantation.

METHODS: The data of a cohort of 107 patients who received liver transplantation for HCV-associated liver cirrhosis between 1999 and 2003 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The level of serum HCV-RNA and the activity of recurrent hepatitis were compared between 47 patients who received either cyclosporine or tacrolimus as the primary immunosuppressive agent and an otherwise similar immunosuppressive regimen which did not lead to biliary complications within the first 12 mo after transplantation.

RESULTS: HCV-RNA increased within 3 mo after transplantation but the differences between the cyclosporine group and the tacrolimus group were insignificant (P = 0.49 at 12 mo). In addition, recurrent hepatitis as determined by serum transaminases and histological grading of portal inflammation and fibrosis showed no significant difference after 12 mo (P = 0.34).

CONCLUSION: Cyclosporine or tacrolimus as a primary immunosuppressive agent does not influence the induction or severity of recurrent hepatitis in HCV-infected patients after liver transplantation.

Keywords: Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Liver trans-plantation, Recurrent hepatitis, HCV-RNA