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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2014; 20(34): 11935-11938
Published online Sep 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.11935
Outcomes after liver transplantation for combined alcohol and hepatitis C virus infection
Rashid Khan, Ashwani K Singal, Bhupinderjit S Anand
Rashid Khan, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States
Ashwani K Singal, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, United States
Bhupinderjit S Anand, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Michael DeBakey VA Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Khan R performed literature search, analyzed data and wrote the manuscript; Singal AK oversight writing of the initial draft and provided additional literature to write the paper; Anand BS reviewed the final draft.
Correspondence to: Ashwani K Singal, MD, MS, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1808 7th Ave South, BDB 351, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, United States. ashwanisingal.com@gmail.com
Telephone: +1-205-9759698 Fax: +1-205-9750961
Received: January 28, 2014
Revised: March 28, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: September 14, 2014
Abstract

Alcohol abuse and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are two major causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. About 10%-15% of liver transplants performed in the United States are for patients with cirrhosis due to combined alcohol and HCV infection. Data on outcomes on graft and patient survival, HCV recurrence, and relapse of alcohol use comparing transplants in hepatitis C positive drinkers compared to alcohol abuse or hepatitis C alone are conflicting in the literature. Some studies report a slightly better overall outcome in patients who were transplanted for alcoholic cirrhosis vs those transplanted for HCV alone or for combined HCV and alcohol related cirrhosis. However, some other studies do not support these observations. However, most studies are limited to a retrospective design or small sample size. Larger prospective multicenter studies are needed to better define the outcomes in hepatitis C drinkers.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease, Hepatitis C virus, Liver transplantation, Graft survival, Mortality

Core tip: This article deals with prevalence and impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on progression and severity of alcoholic cirrhosis. We searched the literature on graft and patient survival among patients receiving liver transplantation for combined alcohol and HCV infection comparing to transplants received for either disease alone.