| Theme |
Debatable Issues in Living-Donor Liver Transplantation |
| Title |
Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Cirrhosis |
| Author |
Yasuhiko Sugawara |
Artificial Organ & Transplantation Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Masatoshi Makuuchi |
Artificial Organ & Transplantation Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo |
| [ Summary ] |
Cirrhosis, secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, is a leading indication for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) among adults in Japan. This is partly due to an insurance system change in January, 2004. There is a great deal of debate on how to overcome recurrent HCV complications after LDLT. Treatment of recurrent HCV disease generally consists of peg-interferon and ribavirin administration. Due to side effects, preoperative use of these treatments is not widely used. At the present time, preemptive study is not widely recommended. |