Hepatitis C Virus RNA Persists in Liver Explants of Most Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation Treated With an Interferon-Free Regimen

We assessed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver explants from 39 patients awaiting liver transplantation who were treated with an interferon-free regimen and had undetectable serum HCV RNA at the time of liver transplantation. Interestingly, HCV RNA was detected in most liver explants (67%). Patients with HCV RNA-positive explants had received shorter courses of treatment, and HCV RNA was undetectable in serum for shorter periods before transplantation compared to patients with HCV RNA-negative explants (P =.014 and P=. 013, respectively). Levels of HCV RNA in explants were significantly higher in patients with a relapse of HCV infection than patients who responded to treatment (P =.016), but most patients (85%) with residual HCV-RNA in the explant achieved a sustained virologic response after receiving their liver transplant.