Transplantation and viral hepatitis: major progress

Purpose of review To summarise recent progress in the fields of viral hepatitis and transplantation. Viral hepatitis in kidney transplantation (and in cardiac or pulmonary transplantation) may results in potential hepatitis-related liver problems, which require efficient management to avoid a harmful impact on the patient (liver-related mortality) and allograft. In liver recipients for hepatitis infection, viral infection is the main problem given the risk of severe recurrence. Recent Findings Progress has been made in evaluation of the impact of hepatitis on the liver (liver biopsy and biochemical or morphological non-invasive tests for fibrosis) and in the treatment of hepatitis B and C infection. Nucleos(t)ide analogues allow an efficient suppression of hepatitis B virus, and combination therapies decrease the risk of viral resistance. The combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in dialysis patients and in liver transplant recipients induces a 30% rate of sustained virological response corresponding to recovering. Summary Hepatitis infection has to be diagnosed and evaluated in transplant recipients and treated when necessary. Beneficial viral suppression has modified the prognosis of transplantation, especially in the prevention and treatment of viral recurrence.