A Study Comparing Measurements of Response to Antiviral Treatments for Liver Transplant Patients that have Recurrent Hepatitis C

Overview

About this study

The purpose of this study is to measure the rates of continuing viral presence, following anti-viral therapy with combined Peg-Interferon and Ribavirin in patients that have had a liver transplant, are immune suppressed with Neoral or tacrolimus, and have a recurring infection with the Hepatitis C virus.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Liver transplantation performed at least 6 months and up to 5 years prior randomization and due to HCV cirrhosis, with or without pre-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan or UCSF criteria
  • Immunosuppresive regimen based on tacrolimus (twice or once daily) for at least 6 months prior to randomization
  • Diagnosis of HCV genotypes 1 or 4 infection prior to transplantation confirmed at screening
  • Indication of treatment with Peg-IFN and ribavirin due to histological evidence of chronic HCV infection defined as a fibrosis stage equal or greater than 1 using the Ishak-Knodell scoring system (IK ≥1) in a liver biopsy performed at screening or up to 4 months prior to randomization

Exclusion Criteria

  • Serum creatinine >150 μmol/L (1.6 7 mg/dL) or eGFR < 50 ml/min (4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD Cockcroft-Gault formula])
  • Multi-organ transplant recipients
  • Recent episode of steroid-treated acute rejection (AR) within 3 months prior to randomization, or >1 episode of steroid-treated AR in the last 6 months, or any number of steroid-resistant AR episodes in the last 6 months including evidence of chronic rejection or ductopenia
  • Evidence of conditions that could cause graft dysfunction other than HCV infection
  • Signs of decompensated liver disease, defined as presence of ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy or deteriorated hepatic synthetic function (albumin <3.5g/dL or, total direct bilirubin >1.5mg/dL or, INR >1.5)
  • Co-infection with HIV or Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg-positive) at screening
  • Use of mTOR inhibitors (everolimus or sirolimus) in the 6 months prior to screening
  • Antiviral treatment for HCV administered at any time after liver transplantation
  • On daily doses of corticosteroids higher than 5 mg/day
  • Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis
  • Current diagnosis of malignancies, including lymphoproliferative disorders
  • Platelet count <70,000/mm3 or neutrophiles <1,500/mm3
  • History of HCC outside Milan criteria based on radiology or UCSF criteria based on analysis of the explant

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status

Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Hugo Vargas, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

More information

Publications

Publications are currently not available

Additional contact information

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Phone: 800-664-4542 (toll-free)

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