African Americans Fare Worse After Undergoing Liver Transplantation Due to Hepatitis C

African Americans Fare Worse After Undergoing Liver Transplantation Due to
Hepatitis C
Presented Monday, November 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm Eastern Time in Boston, MA

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and BOSTON, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Previous studies have
shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) progresses slower prior to liver
transplantation in African Americans than in whites. However, researchers
demonstrate in this study, which will be presented at the annual meeting of
the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, that the opposite is
true after transplantation, in that recurrent HCV in the transplanted liver
progresses faster in African Americans than in whites. "I believe this study
highlights the need, in all patients, for early close clinical monitoring,
including the use of early protocol biopsies, to identify these patients that
have early disease progression post-transplantation," said Jennifer Layden,
MD, PhD, principal investigator on this study.

This retrospective multisite cohort study of 771 patients from 5 sites
evaluated patients who had a liver transplantation between 1999 and 2008. All
patients were transplanted due to liver failure caused by HCV. Data were
analyzed at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after transplantation.

The researchers found, based on an analysis of liver biopsies performed after
transplantation, that African Americans had more severe fibrosis progression
and histologic inflammation compared to whites following liver transplantation
for HCV. While Hispanics demonstrated similar disease progression after liver
transplantation as whites, African Americans more often experienced graft
failure and required repeat liver transplantation compared to whites. In
addition, the hazard ratio for patient death for African Americans was 1.3,
indicating a 30% higher mortality for African Americans compared to whites.
The researchers concluded that African Americans who undergo liver
transplantation caused by HCV had more severe fibrosis progression and
histologic inflammation compared to whites undergoing the same procedure.

"While this study illustrates that HCV histologic progression occurs early and
is more aggressive in African Americans, it does not allow a careful analysis
of factors that may be contributing to these differences," concluded Dr.
Layden, "we are conducting a multi-site prospective study to not only confirm
these retrospective findings, but also examine both donor and host factors,
including psychosocial, virologic, genetic and immunologic that may contribute
to this important health disparity."

Abstract title:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) progresses more rapidly after orthotopic liver
transplantation (OLT) in African-Americans (AA) compared to whites (W)

About the AASLD

AASLD is the leading medical society focused solely on advancing the science
and practice of hepatology and represents more than 3,300 practitioners,
researchers, and allied health professionals worldwide. Founded by physicians
in 1950, AASLD has upheld the standards of the profession and fostered
research that generates treatment options for the millions of patients with
liver diseases.

This year's Liver Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts, October 30 -
November 3, will bring together more than 7,000 researchers from 55 countries.
A pressroom will be available from October 31 at the annual meeting. For
copies of abstracts and press releases, or to arrange for pre-conference
research interviews contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register,
call Ann Tracy at 703-299-9766.

Press releases, additional information for the media, and all abstracts are
available online at www.aasld.org.

Media Contact: Gregory Bologna
703/299-9766
gbologna@aasld.org
Press Room: October 31 - November 3, 2009
Hynes Convention Center, Room 209
Telephone: (617) 954-2827

Researcher: Jennifer Layden, MD, PhD
Email: jlayde1@uic.edu
Phone: (312) 804-9087

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SOURCE American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

Gregory Bologna, +1-703-299-9766, gbologna@aasld.org