Characteristics, Trends, and Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Female Versus Male Patients: An Analysis From the European Liver Transplant Registry.

Background: The influence of sex on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), pre- and postliver transplantation (LT) is unclear. Aims are to assess whether there have been changes in incidence, profile, and outcome in LT-PSC patients in Europe with specific emphasis on sex.

Methods: Analysis of the European Liver Transplant Registry database (PSC patients registered before 2018), including baseline demographics, donor, biochemical, and clinical data at LT, immunosuppression, and outcome.

COVID-19 and liver transplantation.

The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on liver transplantation programmes and recipients is still not completely understood but overall involves the risk of donor-derived transmission, the reliability of diagnostic tests, health-care resource utilization and the effect of immunosuppression. This Comment reviews the effect of COVID-19 on liver transplantation and summarizes recommendations for donor and recipient management.

Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of simeprevir, daclatasvir, and ribavirin in patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection after orthotopic liver transplantation: The Phase II SATURN study.

Background: Recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following liver transplantation is associated with accelerated progression to graft failure and reduced patient survival.

Methods: The Phase II, open-label SATURN study (NCT01938625) investigated the combination of simeprevir (SMV), daclatasvir (DCV), and ribavirin (RBV) administered for 24 weeks in 35 patients with recurrent HCV genotype (GT) 1b infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Results: High rates of both on-treatment and sustained virologic response 12 weeks after end of treatment (SVR12) were achieved in patients who were either treatment-naïve or had failed post-OLT treatment with peginterferon and RBV.

Efficacy of telaprevir-based therapy in stable liver transplant patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C.

Unlabelled:  Background and rationale. The REPLACE study (NCT01571583) investigated telaprevir-based triple therapy in patients who have recurrent genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following liver transplantation and are on a stable immunosuppressant regimen of tacrolimus or cyclosporin A. Patients received telaprevir 750 mg 8-hourly with pegylated interferon 180 ?g weekly and ribavirin 600 mg daily, followed by a further 36 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone and 24 weeks of follow-up.

Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/r, dasabuvir and ribavirin for cirrhotic HCV patients with thrombocytopaenia and hypoalbuminaemia.

Background & Aims: Thrombocytopaenia and hypoalbuminaemia are surrogate markers for portal hypertension and hepatic synthetic dysfunction respectively. Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with these surrogates have reduced likelihood of sustained virologic response and increased risk for hepatic decompensation or death when treated with peginterferon/ribavirin plus either telaprevir or boceprevir.

Methods: We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the TURQUOISE-II clinical trial in patients with cirrhosis to examine the impact of these surrogates on efficacy and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin.

Management of HCV in the liver transplant setting.

Hepatitis C-related cirrhosis is the main indication for liver transplantation. In the absence of viral eradication, viral recurrence leads to recurrent HCV disease and progression to advanced graft disease in many recipients, particularly those transplanted with subobtimal grafts. Viral eradication is associated with improved outcome whether used pre- or post-transplantation.