Severe hepatitis C virus recurrence is nearly universal after donation after cardiac death liver transplant.

OBJECTIVES: The rate of hepatitis C virus recurrence after donation after cardiac death liver transplant is not clearly defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 39 donations after cardiac death-liver transplant recipients. Biopsies were performed at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months for all hepatitis C virus positive donation after cardiac death recipients. RESULTS: The 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month severe hepatitis C virus recurrence rates were 60%, 73%, 87%, and 94%. A histologic comparison group of 26 long-surviving hepatitis C virus positive donation after neurologic death recipients had severe hepatitis C virus recurrence 27%, 31%, 42%, and 52% of the time. Six of the 19 hepatitis C virus donation after cardiac death patients developed cirrhosis at a median of 56 months (range, 14-119 months). There was no significant 3-year allograft and patient survival difference between hepatitis C virus and nonhepatitis C virus donation after cardiac death recipients. The factors most associated with decreased survival in the entire cohort included biliary and vascular complications. Organs procured by our institution's attending surgeons were associated with a better 3-year allograft survival. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hepatitis C virus recurrence was nearly universal but did not lead to increased graft loss when compared with nonhepatitis C virus donation after cardiac death at 3 years. These data may justify early interferon treatment in these at-risk patients.