Retransplantation for recurrent hepatitis C

Abstract

1. Primary orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatitis C is performed with good results. 2. Re-OLT in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected transplant recipients is performed mostly for indications other than recurrent disease in the short-term after primary OLT. 3. Progressive allograft injury and loss caused by recurrent disease predict an increased need for re-OLT for HCV recurrence in the long term. 4. Outcomes of re-OLT for recurrent hepatitis C are equivalent to results for other indications of re-OLT. 5. Good outcomes are obtained in selected patients when re-OLT is performed early in the course of recurrent disease before transplant recipients become critically ill.