Hepatitis C Virus RNA Persists in Liver Explants of Most Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation Treated With an Interferon-Free Regimen

Abstract

We assessed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver explants from 39 patients awaiting liver transplantation who were treated with an interferon-free regimen and had undetectable serum HCV RNA at the time of liver transplantation. Interestingly, HCV RNA was detected in most liver explants (67%). Patients with HCV RNA–positive explants had received shorter courses of treatment, and HCV RNA was undetectable in serum for shorter periods before transplantation compared to patients with HCV RNA–negative explants (P =.014 and P = .013, respectively). Levels of HCV RNA in explants were significantly higher in patients with a relapse of HCV infection than patients who responded to treatment (P = .016), but most patients (85%) with residual HCV-RNA in the explant achieved a sustained virologic response after receiving their liver transplant.