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Histopathologic efficacy of ribavirin monotherapy in kidney allograft recipients with chronic hepatitis C
Histopathologic efficacy of ribavirin monotherapy in kidney allograft recipients with chronic hepatitis C
- Source :
- Transplantation. 78(6)
- Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND The deterioration of chronic hepatitis C is frequent in kidney recipients and results in a decrease in survival of patients and allografts. Interferon is contraindicated because of the risk of rejection and its low efficacy. The aim of this study was to analyze the biologic, virologic, and histopathologic efficacy of ribavirin alone in kidney allograft recipients with hepatitis C. METHODS Thirteen kidney recipients (eight men and five women, 46+/-11 years of age) with severe Metavir score of fibrosis (eight F3 and five F4) were treated with ribavirin alone during 22.4+/-13.9 months. Liver biopsy was performed before and during therapy, with a mean interval time of 5.7+/-9.3 years. RESULTS The transaminase level decreased significantly (128+/-77 vs. 53+/-28, P=0.001) without significant change of serum quantitative hepatitis C virus load. The comparison of pretreatment and on-treatment biopsy specimens showed a significant decrease in the activity Metavir score (1.23+/-1.01 vs. 2.46+/-0.78, P=0.05) and a nonsignificant trend for a decrease in the fibrosis score. Ribavirin tolerance was fair, and only one patient required erythropoietin therapy. CONCLUSIONS Ribavirin alone in kidney allograft recipients results in biologic and histologic improvement without a virologic response and is reasonably well tolerated.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Hepatitis C virus
Urinary system
Hepacivirus
medicine.disease_cause
Gastroenterology
Antiviral Agents
Statistics, Nonparametric
chemistry.chemical_compound
Liver Function Tests
Internal medicine
Biopsy
Ribavirin
medicine
Humans
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Hepatitis
Transplantation
Kidney
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Middle Aged
Viral Load
medicine.disease
Kidney Transplantation
medicine.anatomical_structure
Treatment Outcome
chemistry
Liver
Liver biopsy
Immunology
RNA, Viral
Female
business
Follow-Up Studies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00411337
- Volume :
- 78
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Transplantation
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....896a4b5a15d4cd6dca0d4eb36de1d23b