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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2013; 19(21): 3255-3262
Published online Jun 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i21.3255
Published online Jun 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i21.3255
Treatment of hepatitis C in compensated cirrhotic patients is equally effective before and after liver transplantation
Francesca Romana Ponziani, Eleonora Brigida Annicchiarico, Massimo Siciliano, Francesca D’Aversa, Maurizio Pompili, Antonio Gasbarrini, UOC Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico A Gemelli, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Ponziani FR and D’Aversa F searched literature and wrote the article, Ponziani FR collected data; Annicchiarico BE, Siciliano M, Pompili M and Gasbarrini A revised the article.
Correspondence to: Francesca D’Aversa, MD, UOC Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico A Gemelli, Catholic University of Rome, largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. francesca.dav@hotmail.it
Telephone: +39-328-8624920 Fax: +39-6-30157249
Received: January 21, 2013
Revised: March 29, 2013
Accepted: April 27, 2013
Published online: June 7, 2013
Processing time: 134 Days and 10 Hours
Revised: March 29, 2013
Accepted: April 27, 2013
Published online: June 7, 2013
Processing time: 134 Days and 10 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: In patients with hepatitis C virus compensated liver cirrhosis antiviral treatment should be considered in order to prevent short to mid-term complications. However, the results of treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin are worse than in non-cirrhotic patients. Furthermore, in non-liver transplanted (LT) cirrhotics, a sustained virological response to antiviral treatment is associated to improved survival, while, at present, no data regarding LT cirrhotic is available in literature. The present study highlights that cirrhotic patients who undergo antiviral treatment after liver transplantation have a worse prognosis, compared to non-LT ones, independently of the achievement of sustained virological response.