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TUESDAY, March 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Direct-acting antiviral prophylaxis is safe and prevents chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after kidney transplantation from HCV-infected donors to noninfected recipients, according to a study published online March 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Christine M. Durand, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues assessed the tolerability and feasibility of using direct-acting antivirals (grazoprevir and elbasvir) as prophylaxis before and after kidney transplant from HCV-infected donors to non-HCV-infected recipients (HCV D+<\/sup>\/R\u2212<\/sup> transplant). The study included 10 HCV D+<\/sup>\/R\u2212<\/sup> kidney transplant candidates who were older than 50 years and had no available living kidney donors.<\/p>\n The researchers found that there were no treatment-related adverse events among the 10 HCV D+<\/sup>\/R\u2212<\/sup> transplant recipients. Twelve weeks after treatment, no HCV RNA was detected in any recipient.<\/p>\n “If confirmed in larger studies, this strategy should markedly expand organ options and reduce mortality for kidney transplant candidates without HCV infection,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., which partially funded the study.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n