Hepatitis C in Transplant Recipients of Solid Organs, Other than Liver

HCV infection is prevalent in candidates for, and recipients of, solid organ transplants. HCV infection can lead to diminished long-term patient and allograft survival in recipients of kidney transplants. Outcomes in recipients of other solid organ transplants (eg, lung, heart, small bowel, pancreas, pancreas-kidney) are not well established. Large, well-designed, prospective studies are needed to answer these questions. Interferon therapy for HCV before transplantation can lead to improved outcomes after transplantation. Therefore, transplant candidates should be considered for, and offered, interferon therapy before embarking on organ transplantation. Posttransplant interferon therapy can be complicated by acute allograft rejection, and it is not recommended, except with advanced liver disease.