HCV-Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

Hepatitis-C-virus (HCV) represents one of the most serious threats for human liver and chronic HCV-infection results in the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV is an enveloped RNA-virus belonging to the flaviviridae family. Currently six identified HCV-genotypes, different in their geographic distribution define the severity of pathogenic effect, disease course and treatment results. About 1.5% of the European population are HCV-positive. Although the natural history of HCV-infection is rather slow, highly variable disease progression may lead to a rapid loss of liver function [1, 2]. An estimated annual incidence of new infections (3-4 millions) explains 170 million HCV-positive people worldwide. 80% of all HCV-infections become chronic and fewer than 25% of HCV-positive individuals are clinically apparent presenting either in a clinically stable state with few only symptoms or with fully decompensated liver disease with a dire prognosis [1, 3, 4]. Once chronic HCV-infection is established, the rates of spontaneous viral clearance remain discouraging.