An Open-label, Cohort Study of Grazoprevir/Elbasvir Combination Therapy for Patients With Genotype 1b Chronic Hepatitis C After Liver or Kidney Transplantation

Grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy (grazoprevir 100 mg/ elbasvir 50 mg, Zepatier®, MSD) has been recommended as the 1st-line treatment for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C by the updated international guidelines, and the rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) can be higher than 95% in either treatment-naïve or peginterferon-experienced patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Moreover, even among patients with liver cirrhosis, the efficacy of grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy remains very high. In addition, drug-related adverse effects (AEs) were quite low in previous studies, and less than 1% of cirrhotic patients discontinued this therapy during treatment period (4). Grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy is an effective and safe treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. Patients underwent liver or kidney transplantation always suffer from recurrent chronic hepatitis C. Recurrent chronic hepatitis C can result in liver cirrhosis, liver decompensation, and death. Chronic hepatitis C is also associated with a higher incidence of chronic rejection, graft failure and mortality after kidney transplantation. Treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver or kidney transplantation was a big challenge before the development of new direct-acting antiviral (DAA). Not only a low SVR rate but also a high rate of severe adverse effects results in the hesitation of peginterferon-ribavirin combination therapy. Although some new DAAs can be used in organ transplantation, the cost remains quite high. More new DAA choices for patients underwent organ transplantation are needed.

The clinical data of grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy on the treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C after liver or kidney transplantation remain lacking. With high virologic response rates and low adverse effects in the management for chronic hepatitis C, grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy could be a good option for patients underwent liver or kidney transplantation. No drug-drug interaction (DDI) was noted between grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy and steroid, and the DDI with the most commonly-used immunosuppressant, tacrolimus, was also not significant, The drug levels of immunosuppressants can be carefully monitored and adjusted during treatment period. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of grazoprevir/elbasvir combination therapy in treating genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C after liver or kidney transplantation.