Very interesting stuff. So, the question will be whether to treat the hepc before transplant or wait until after the new liver has time to acclimate to its new environment.
The other side of the coin in whether treating the hepc before transplant might eliminate the need for the transplant completely or merely postpone it; another variable that there is probably no "one size fits all" answer to.
OldenSlow said
Jun 26, 2014
Thanks, Huey. Interesting stuff. Along the same lines, an article about how the Hep C virus itself may reduce the need for post-transplant immunosuppresants:
"In background information supplied with the study, the researchers explained that because the immune system is suppressed by medications, hepatitis C actually flourishes after a transplant, causing rapid damage to the new liver.
However, if the immune-suppressing drugs are not given, hepatitis C appears to help a liver recipient accept the new organ -- even better than immunosuppressive medications would.
All this is due to a common viral trick that hepatitis C uses to avoid getting spotted by the immune system. According to the new study, the virus "rewires" immune cells to reduce their function -- essentially performing the immune-squelching work that immunosuppressive drugs do.
"This is part of the virus' immune evasion strategy and can be observed in a part of patients developing chronic hepatitis C," Bohne said.
The result is an environment in which immune response is blunted against the replacement liver because hepatitis C has taught the body to ignore the new organ."
Very interesting stuff. So, the question will be whether to treat the hepc before transplant or wait until after the new liver has time to acclimate to its new environment.
The other side of the coin in whether treating the hepc before transplant might eliminate the need for the transplant completely or merely postpone it; another variable that there is probably no "one size fits all" answer to.
Thanks, Huey. Interesting stuff. Along the same lines, an article about how the Hep C virus itself may reduce the need for post-transplant immunosuppresants:
Silver Lining for Transplant Patients?
From the article:
"In background information supplied with the study, the researchers explained that because the immune system is suppressed by medications, hepatitis C actually flourishes after a transplant, causing rapid damage to the new liver.
However, if the immune-suppressing drugs are not given, hepatitis C appears to help a liver recipient accept the new organ -- even better than immunosuppressive medications would.
All this is due to a common viral trick that hepatitis C uses to avoid getting spotted by the immune system. According to the new study, the virus "rewires" immune cells to reduce their function -- essentially performing the immune-squelching work that immunosuppressive drugs do.
"This is part of the virus' immune evasion strategy and can be observed in a part of patients developing chronic hepatitis C," Bohne said.
The result is an environment in which immune response is blunted against the replacement liver because hepatitis C has taught the body to ignore the new organ."
http://news.yahoo.com/designer-t-cells-fight-viruses-transplants-191027539.html
This may be of some interest to those with transplants.