Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Induction with rabbit antithymocyte globulin versus induction with corticosteroids in liver transplantation: impact on recurrent hepatitis C virus infection.

Nair S, Loss GE, Cohen AJ, Eason JD

Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA. snair@ochsner.org

This study compares the clinical course of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection between 64 patients, who were randomized to receive either rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) or steroids as induction therapy with tacrolimus for maintenance. The HCV recurrence was assessed by HCV RNA levels, peak ALT at 3-6 months, the grade of inflammation at biopsy at 3-6 months posttransplant, progression of fibrosis, and survival. All patients had also received antiviral therapy with interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin, if there were no contraindications. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of inflammation at 3 months, peak ALT, or HCV RNA. The survival between the two groups of patients was similar. It appears that steroid-free liver transplantation with RATG induction does not have any negative influence on HCV recurrence in hepatitis C patients after liver transplantation.

Published 23 February 2006 in Transplantation, 81(4): 620-2.
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