Published online Mar 27, 2022. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i3.602
Peer-review started: October 23, 2021
First decision: December 2, 2021
Revised: December 16, 2021
Accepted: February 15, 2022
Article in press: February 15, 2022
Published online: March 27, 2022
Liver transplant recipients may undergo liver biopsy for different indications, and persistent inflammation in patients who receive DAAs can be seen despite achieving sustained virologic response (SVR).
Data on the significance of persistent inflammation on histology after successful treatment of hepatitis C infection with Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies is scarce.
We aimed to examine the impact of successful treatment with DAAs on histological changes and to describe the clinical course of residual inflammation in liver transplant recipients.
A case series of chronic hepatitis C liver transplant recipients received DAA post-liver transplant and achieved sustained virologic response. Only patients with at least one liver biopsy were included.
Thirteen patients were included in this case series; all achieved SVR. Twelve patients were found to have persistent inflammation at the end of treatment biopsy. Five patients had follow-up biopsies, all of which had persistent inflammation. However, all patients had preserved graft function up to 2.5 years, except one who had chronic rejection.
Persistent inflammation can be seen in liver transplant recipients treated with DAAs; however, it did not appear to affect the outcome.
The findings of our case series shed light on the significance of persistent inflammation in liver transplant recipients post successful DAAs treatment. Further studies are needed to include a more diverse patient population.