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– “The Days of Hepatitis C Dominating Liver Transplantation Are Numbered” –
LONDON, ON, May 3, 2016 /CNW/ – Researchers with the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at London Health Sciences Centre and the Lawson Health Research Institute have been able to remove one-third (33 per cent) of patients from the active liver transplant waiting list by “curing” them of their Hepatitis C disease. This is the first Canadian data that demonstrates the benefit of treating and curing patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in advanced stages of liver disease that have also been assessed for, and would otherwise have received, radical and life-saving liver transplantation.
“For years, severe liver disease from chronic infection with Hepatitis C has been the most common indication for liver transplantation, not only in Canada, but also worldwide,” said Dr. Paul Marotta, Medical Director Liver Transplantation, Multi-Organ Transplant Program, London Health Sciences Centre. “These impressive results mean that not only will this save these patients from the need for transplantation, but will also allow the scarce resource of donor organs to go to others who are in urgent need – this is an incredible outcome,” said Dr. Marotta.
In this clinical study, 23 patients with advanced liver disease from HCV, were identified as candidates for liver transplantation. All patients were prescribed oral anti-viral (sofosbuvir-based) treatment regimens. At the time of the interim results, 13 patients had completed HCV treatment and 10 additional patients were soon to complete HCV treatment.
Of the 13 patients who had completed HCV treatment, nine patients had achieved a cure of their chronic hepatitis C (SVR 12), and four more had completed treatment and were pending a result to confirm a cure (SVR 12). Of the nine cured patients, three (33 per cent) were removed from the liver transplant list due to the vast improvements in their disease severity scores. No significant adverse events were reported.
“HCV therapy that is now available for these patients leads not only to cure in a large percentage, but also to regression of liver disease suggesting that the days of HCV dominating the liver transplant list are numbered,” said Dr. Marotta. “These early and impressive results show that we can cure HCV in patients that have advanced liver disease and eliminate the need for liver transplantation. These newer treatment strategies are exceedingly well tolerated, have an excellent safety profile, and have high efficacy,” added Dr. Marotta.