hepatitis c infection is the leading reason for liver transplantation in the u. s. accounting for 40% to 45% of transplants. hcv routinely recurs after transplantation and infects the new liver. approximately 25% of these patients with recurrent hepatitis will develop cirrhosis within five years of transplantation. despite these findings of recurrence the five-year survival rate for patients with hcv is comparable to that of patients who receive transplants for other types of liver disease. treatment for recurrent hepatitis is not a simple issue. interferon is an immune modulator (modifier) that may promote rejection of the transplanted liver. furthermore interferon may not be well tolerated by patients who just underwent transplantation and are taking many different kinds of medications.
can liver transplantation be done for hepatitis c?