Worse recent efficacy of antiviral therapy in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C: Impact of donor age and baseline cirrhosis

We hypothesized that antiviral efficacy [sustained virologic response (SVR)] has improved in recent years in the transplant setting. Our aim was to assess whether the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PegIFN)–ribavirin (Rbv) has improved over time. One hundred seven liver transplant patients [74% men, 55.5 years old (range: 37.5–69.5), 86% genotype 1a or 1b] were treated with PegIFN-Rbv for 355 (16–623) days at 20.1 (1.7–132.6) months after transplantation. Tacrolimus was used in 61%. Sixty-seven percent had baseline F3–F4 (cirrhosis: 20.5%). Donor age was 49 (12–78) years. SVR was achieved in 39 (36.5%) patients, with worse results achieved in recent years (2001–2003: n = 27, 46.5%; 2004: …