Long-Term Outcome of Hepatitis C Infection after Liver Transplantation

Cirrhosis related to infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common reason for liver transplantation, although viremia is known to persist in over 95 percent of patients. 1 Recurrence of HCV infection in the graft can be demonstrated as early as four weeks after liver transplantation for HCV-induced cirrhosis, 2 and acute lobular hepatitis will develop in most patients during the first year. 3 Because the initial graft dysfunction usually resolves, chronic hepatitis was thought to be a rare sequela. 4 , 5 However, recent reports have indicated that liver-graft damage can occur at an accelerated rate, leading to recurrent cirrhosis within five . . .