Negativization of viremia prior to liver transplant reduces early allograft dysfunction in hepatitis C-positive recipients

Early post-liver transplant use of direct-acting antivirals in naive and NS5A inhibitor-experienced HCV patients

Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) are safe and effective in the HCV population. However, in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and/or active hepatocellular carcinoma or relapse to NS5A inhibitors, response rates are lower and DAA therapy must be postponed until after liver transplant in an era of organ shortage and suboptimal donors. We aimed to assess the prevalence of patients still HCV infected at time of transplantation over the last 3 years in our Center and describe the safety and efficacy of DAA therapy started as soon as possible after surgery. We enrolled all HCV viraemic patients transplanted in our Centre from January 2019 to March 2022. The follow-up was closed in July 2022. Among 490 liver transplants, 49 (10%) patients were still HCV viraemic at operation, 43 naive to DAA and 6 were NS5A-experienced. Median donor age was 64 years; donor risk index was 1.8. In naive patients, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir was started after a median time of 1 day from surgery, while in NS5A-experienced sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir after 14.5 days (p = .001). Response rate was 98%. 1 NS5A-experienced patient experienced acute cholestatic hepatitis which promptly reverted after permanent DAA discontinuation. Hence, very early post-liver transplant HCV eradication was safe and effective thanks to a close teamwork which involved anaesthesiologists, transplant surgeons and hepatologists.

Therapy of Chronic Viral Hepatitis: The Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Chronic viral hepatitis determines significant morbidity and mortality globally and is caused by three main etiological actors (Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Hepatitis D Virus) with different replicative cycles and biological behaviors. Thus, therapies change according to the different characteristics of the viruses. In chronic hepatitis B, long term suppressive treatments with nucleoside/nucleotide analogues have had a dramatic impact on the evolution of liver disease and liver-related complications. However, a conclusive clearance of the virus is difficult to obtain; new strategies that are able to eradicate the infection are currently objects of research. The therapy for Hepatitis D Virus infection is challenging due to the unique virology of the virus, which uses the synthetic machinery of the infected hepatocyte for its own replication and cannot be targeted by conventional antivirals that are active against virus-coded proteins. Recently introduced antivirals, such as bulevertide and lonafarnib, display definite but only partial efficacy in reducing serum HDV-RNA. However, in combination with pegylated interferon, they provide a synergistic therapeutic effect and appear to represent the current best therapy for HDV-positive patients. With the advent of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs), a dramatic breakthrough has occurred in the therapeutic scenario of chronic hepatitis C. Cure of HCV infection is achieved in more than 95% of treated patients, irrespective of their baseline liver fibrosis status. Potentially, the goal of global HCV elimination by 2030 as endorsed by the World Health Organization can be obtained if more global subsidised supplies of DAAs are provided.

Increased Risk of Death in First Year After Liver Transplantation Among Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis vs Liver Disease of Other Etiologies

BACKGROUND & AIMS

An increasing number of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) require liver transplantation. We compared outcomes of patients with liver diseases of different etiologies (NASH, hepatitis C virus [HCV]-associated liver disease, and alcohol-associated liver disease [ALD]).

METHODS

We analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing registry on 6344 patients who underwent liver transplantation for NASH, 17,037 for cirrhosis from chronic HCV infection, and 9279 for ALD. We collected data from patients who underwent liver transplantation during the following time periods: 2008-2010, 2011-2013, 2014-2015, 2016-2017. We compared outcomes of different groups using Cox regression models, adjusting for donor and recipient characteristics.

RESULTS

For patients who underwent liver transplantation during 2016-2017, a significantly lower proportion of patients with NASH survived for 1 year after transplantation than patients with HCV (P = .004) or ALD (P < .001). During this time period, the adjusted risk of death within 1 year was significantly higher for patients with NASH than with ALD (hazard ratio, 1.37; P = .03), regardless of the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. The effects of increasing age were greatest among patients with NASH: compared to patients younger than 50 years, hazard ratios for overall mortality were 1.31 for patients 50-59 years (P = .02), 1.66 for patients 60-64 years (P < .001), 2.08 for patients 65-69 years (P < .001), and 2.66 and for patients and ≥70 years (P < .001). Mortality from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease(s) was highest among patients with NASH, accounting for 11.5% of deaths, compared to 7.0% of deaths in patients with HCV infection and 9.6% in patients with ALD (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of data from patients who underwent liver transplantation during 2016-2017, we found the risk of death within 1 year after transplant was higher among patients with NASH than HCV-associated liver disease or ALD. Risk of death increased with age, and patients with NASH have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in the wait-listed patient with hepatitis C virus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To highlight the current data for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) awaiting orthotopic liver transplant and incorporation of various factors to decide the optimal time to initiate HCV therapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Viral eradication on the waiting list has been found to lead to significant clinical improvement in approximately 20% of HCV-positive patients. However, there have been concerns raised for direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients listed with HCC. DAA therapy leading to rapid HCV clearance has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of HCC recurrence, especially when DAA therapy is initiated in close proximity to HCC therapy. Additionally, the presence of viable HCC may significantly lower the chances of achieving sustained virologic response. Lastly, sustained virologic response can decrease the organ pool in HCV-positive waitlisted patients.

SUMMARY

The decision to treat HCV in patients listed for HCC pre vs. postliver transplant will require additional research.

Efficacy and Safety of Steroid Therapy for Posttransplant Hyperbilirubinemia Caused by Early Allograft Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Hyperbilirubinemia is a common event that occurs after liver transplantation. Hyperbilirubinemia is usually caused by early allograft dysfunction. Glucocorticoid is widely used for immunosuppression, but few studies have analyzed the effects of steroid therapy on posttransplantation hyperbilirubinemia. The aim of this study was to assess whether glucocorticoid was beneficial in treating hyperbilirubinemia caused by early allograft dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia (those with conditions such as biliary complications and rejections were excluded) were randomly assigned, in a 2: 1 ratio, to the steroid and control groups. Patients in the steroid group were treated with glucocorticoid combined with ursodeoxycholic acid, whereas patients in the control group were only treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. The primary endpoint was decrease in bilirubin and the secondary endpoint was safety. RESULTS From 1st June 2016 to 30th April 2018, 40 patients were enrolled into the steroid group, and 20 were enrolled into the control group. Donor, recipient, and operative data were similar between the 2 groups. The decrease in bilirubin levels in the steroid group was significantly greater than that in the control group on the first day after the intervention was finished (9.25±1.30 mg/dL vs. 3.11±1.45 mg/dL, p=0.005), and after 2 weeks (15.01±1.20 mg/dL vs. 8.88±1.98 mg/dL, p=0.007). The steroid group did not have a higher complication rate but it did have a shorter postoperative hospital stay than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose steroid therapy was effective and safe for treating hyperbilirubinemia caused by early graft dysfunction, and it improved liver function.

Impact of DAAs on liver transplantation: Major effects on the evolution of indications and results. An ELITA study based on the ELTR registry

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have dramatically improved the outcome of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection including those with decompensated cirrhosis (DC). We analyzed the evolution of indications and results of liver transplantation (LT) in the past 10 years in Europe, focusing on the changes induced by the advent of DAAs.

METHODS

This is a cohort study based on data from the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR). Data of adult LTs performed between January 2007 to June 2017 for HCV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), alcohol (EtOH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were analyzed. The period was divided into different eras: interferon (IFN/RBV; 2007-2010), protease inhibitor (PI; 2011-2013) and second generation DAA (DAA; 2014-June 2017).

RESULTS

Out of a total number of 60,527 LTs, 36,382 were performed in patients with HCV, HBV, EtOH and NASH. The percentage of LTs due to HCV-related liver disease varied significantly over time (p <0.0001), decreasing from 22.8% in the IFN/RBV era to 17.4% in the DAA era, while those performed for NASH increased significantly (p <0.0001). In the DAA era, the percentage of LTs for HCV decreased significantly (p <0.0001) from 21.1% (first semester 2014) to 10.6% (first semester 2017). This decline was more evident in patients with DC (HCV-DC, -58.0%) than in those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with HCV (HCV-HCC, -41.2%). Conversely, three-year survival of LT recipients with HCV-related liver disease improved from 65.1% in the IFN/RBV era to 76.9% in the DAA era, and is now comparable to the survival of recipients with HBV infection (p = 0.3807).

CONCLUSIONS

In Europe, the number of LTs due to HCV infection is rapidly declining for both HCV-DC and HCV-HCC indications and post-LT survival has dramatically improved over the last three years. This is the first comprehensive study of the overall impact of DAA treatment for HCV on liver transplantation in Europe.

LAY SUMMARY

After the advent of direct-acting antivirals in 2014, a dramatic decline was observed in the number of liver transplants performed both in patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV), minus 60%, and in those with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HCV, minus 41%. Furthermore, this is the first large-scale study demonstrating that the survival of liver transplant recipients with HCV-related liver disease has dramatically improved over the last three years and is now comparable to the survival of recipients with hepatitis B virus infection. The reduction in HCV-related indications for LT means that there is a greater availability of livers, at least 600 every year, which can be allocated to patients with indications other than HCV.

Specific issues concerning the management of patients on the waiting list and after liver transplantation

The present document is a second contribution collecting the recommendations of an expert panel of transplant hepatologists appointed by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF) concerning the management of certain aspects of liver transplantation, including: the issue of prompt referral; the management of difficult candidates; malnutrition; living related liver transplants; hepatocellular carcinoma; and the role of direct acting antiviral agents before and after transplantation. The statements on each topic were approved by participants at the AISF Transplant Hepatology Expert Meeting organized by the Permanent Liver Transplant Commission in Mondello on 12-13 May 2017. They are graded according to the GRADE grading system.

Transplanting hepatitis C virus-positive livers into hepatitis C virus-negative patients with preemptive antiviral treatment: A modeling study

Under current guidelines, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive livers are not transplanted into HCV-negative recipients because of adverse posttransplant outcomes associated with allograft HCV infection. However, HCV can now be cured post-LT (liver transplant) using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) with >90% success; therefore, HCV-negative patients on the LT waiting list may benefit from accepting HCV-positive organs with preemptive treatment. Our objective was to evaluate whether and in which HCV-negative patients the potential benefit of accepting an HCV-positive (i.e., viremic) organ outweighed the risks associated with HCV allograft infection. We developed a Markov-based mathematical model that simulated a virtual trial of HCV-negative patients on the LT waiting list to compare long-term outcomes in patients: (1) willing to accept any (HCV-negative or HCV-positive) liver versus (2) those willing to accept only HCV-negative livers. Patients receiving HCV-positive livers were treated preemptively with 12 weeks of DAA therapy and had a higher risk of graft failure than those receiving HCV-negative livers. The model incorporated data from published studies and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). We found that accepting any liver regardless of HCV status versus accepting only HCV-negative livers resulted in an increase in life expectancy when Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) was ≥20, and the benefit was highest at MELD 28 (0.172 additional life-years). The magnitude of clinical benefit was greater in UNOS regions with higher HCV-positive donor organ rates, that is, Regions 1, 2, 3, 10, and 11. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that model outcomes were robust.

CONCLUSION

Transplanting HCV-positive livers into HCV-negative patients with preemptive DAA therapy could improve patient survival on the LT waiting list. Our analysis can help inform clinical trials and minimize patient harm. (Hepatology 2018;67:2085-2095).

Dropout rate from the liver transplant waiting list because of hepatocellular carcinoma progression in hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with direct-acting antivirals

Concerns about an increased hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence rate following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients with cirrhosis with a prior complete oncological response have been raised. Data regarding the impact of HCV treatment with DAAs on wait-list dropout rates in patients with active HCC and HCV-related cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation (LT) are lacking. HCV-HCC patients listed for LT between January 2015 and May 2016 at Padua Liver Transplant Center were considered eligible for the study. After enrollment, patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on whether they underwent DAA treatment while awaiting LT or not. For each patient clinical, serological, and virological data were collected. HCC characteristics were radiologically evaluated at baseline and during follow-up (FU). For transplanted patients, pathological assessment of the explants was performed and recurrence rates were calculated. A total of 23 patients treated with DAAs and 23 controls were enrolled. HCC characteristics at time of LT listing were comparable between the 2 groups. Median FU was 10 and 7 months, respectively, during which 2/23 (8.7%) and 1/23 (4.3%) dropout events due to HCC progression were registered (P = 0.90). No significant differences in terms of radiological progression were highlighted (P = 0.16). A total of 9 out of 23 (39%) patients and 14 out of 23 (61%) controls underwent LT, and histopathological analysis showed no differences in terms of median number and total tumor volume of HCC nodules, tumor differentiation, or microvascular invasion. During post-LT FU, 1/8 (12.5%) DAA-treated patient and 1/12 (8.3%) control patient experienced HCC recurrence (P = 0.60). In conclusion, viral eradication does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of dropout due to neoplastic progression in HCV-HCC patients awaiting LT. Liver Transplantation 23 1103-1112 2017 AASLD.