London, United Kingdom, Friday 11 April 2014: New research announced at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 today provides new hope for the notoriously difficult-to-treat population of liver transplant patients with recurring hepatitis C (HCV).[1]
As part of a compassionate use program, 104 post-liver transplant patients with recurring HCV who had exhausted all treatment options and had poor clinical prognoses, received sofosbuvir (SOF) and ribavirin (RBV) with pegylated interferon (PEG) included at the physicians’ discretion for up to 48 weeks. Among patients whose clinical outcomes have been reported, 62% achieved SVR12. Additionally, 62% of patients had improvements in clinical conditions associated with hepatic decompensation (e.g., ascites and encephalopathy) and/or improvement in liver function tests. SOF+RBV±PEG was well-tolerated and led to high rates of virologic suppression.
EASL’s European Policy Councillor Professor Patrizia Burra of the Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy said: “There are currently no effective treatment options for this patient group. However, this new trial involving the nucleotide polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir (SOF) has demonstrated promising results, providing further evidence of its clinical potential.”
“For patients with advanced hepatitis C liver disease, liver transplants offer a second chance,” continued Professor Burra, “and for those who continue to suffer post-surgery, it’s important for us to keep following up all avenues possible to improve their quality of life.”
Other research revealed at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 showed that most patients with mild hepatitis C recurrence diagnosed one year after liver transplant have excellent long-term outcomes.[2]
In the second study, 172 patients who were diagnosed with mild hepatitis C recurrence one year after undergoing liver transplant surgery between 1999 and 2012 were followed for six and a half years with all relevant transplant-related, donor and recipient variables recorded. The cumulative probability of HCV-related graft loss five and 10 years after liver transplant were 3% and 10%, respectively.
However one third of these patients are still at risk of going on to develop cirrhosis, further demonstrating the need for antiviral therapy pre or post-transplant.
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of liver transplantation, with virus-related diseases comprising 40% of primary indications for liver transplantation in Europe among patients with cirrhosis.[3]
More than 5,500 liver transplantations are currently performed in Europe per year.[3]
Disclaimer: the data referenced in this release is based on the submitted abstract. More recent data may be presented at the International Liver Congress™ 2014.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
About EASL
EASL is the leading European scientific society involved in promoting research and education in hepatology. EASL attracts the foremost hepatology experts and has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.
EASL’s main focus on education and research is delivered through numerous events and initiatives, including:
- The International Liver CongressTM which is the main scientific and professional event in hepatology worldwide
- Meetings including Monothematic and Special conferences, Post Graduate courses and other endorsed meetings that take place throughout the year
- Clinical and Basic Schools of Hepatology, a series of events covering different aspects in the field of hepatology
- Journal of Hepatology published monthly
- Organisation of a Mentorship program and Masterclass to support young investigators starting out on their career path
- Participation in a number of policy initiatives at European level
About The International Liver CongressTM 2014
The International Liver Congress™ 2014, the 49th annual meeting of the European Association for the study of the Liver, is being held at ExCel London from April 9 – 13, 2014. The congress annually attracts in excess of 9000 clinicians and scientists from around the world and provides an opportunity to hear the latest research, perspectives and treatments of liver disease from principal experts in the field.
For further information on the studies, or to request an interview, please do not hesitate to contact the EASL Press Office on:
Email: easlpressoffice@cohnwolfe.com
Helena Symeou +44 7976 562 430
Courtney Lock +44 7894 386 422
1. X.FORNS ET AL. SOFOSBUVIR COMPASSIONATE USE PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH SEVERE RECURRENTHEPATITIS C INCLUDING FIBROSING CHOLESTATIC HEPATITIS FOLLOWING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION. ABSTRACTPRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL LIVER CONGRESS™ 2014
2. M.GAMBATO ET AL. LONG TERM OUTCOME OF MILD HEPATITIS C RECURRENCE AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: A LARGEPROSPECTIVE STUDY. ABSTRACT PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL LIVER CONGRESS™ 2014
3. EU BURDEN OF LIVER DISEASE: A REVIEW OF AVAILABLE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA. EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDYOF THE LIVER. 2013. HTTP://WWW.EASL.EU/ASSETS/APPLICATION/FILES/54AE845CAEC619F_FILE.PDF ACCESSED 16.02.14.
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