Outcome after liver re-transplantation in patients with recurrent chronic hepatitis C.

Long-term outcome after liver retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C has been reported to be inferior to other indications. The identification of factors associated which improved long-term results may help identify hepatitis C positive patients who benefit from liver retransplantation. Outcome after liver retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C was analyzed in 18 patients (group 1) and compared with hepatitis C positive patients undergoing liver retransplantation for initial nonfunction (group 2, n=11) and patients with liver retransplantation for other indications (group 3, n=169). Five-year patient survival following retransplantation for groups 1, 2 and 3 was 59% 84% and 60%. Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum bilirubin, as well as white cell count and MELD score at day of retransplantation were associated with impaired patient outcome. Five-year survival after retransplantation in patients with recurrent hepatitis C is similar to that in patients undergoing liver retransplantation for other indications. Our analysis showed MELD score, bilirubin, ALT levels and white cell counts preorthotopic liver transplantation are important predictive factors for outcome. This observational study may help select patients and identify the optimal time-point of liver retransplantation in ''Hepatitis C'' virus positive patients in the future.