will interferion cause liver rejection in transplant patients?

[travisgentry]

My dad had a liver transplant 6 years ago this weekend he has been on the interferion treatment for 10 months and is now in the hosp w/ possible liver failure....what i want to know is has anyone heard of the interferion treatment causing liver failure in post liver transplant patients?

[mycoldfeet]

Many people must clear the virus after a transplant, Interferon is a naturally occuring substance in the body but like insulin can be artificially manufactured. I myself have never heard of it causing rejection. I am surprised that 6 years post transplant they start treatment, unless they are using a maitenance dose to keep the liver as healthy as possible until a new liver can be located. A liver transplant is hard to predict, the average is 5-10 years longivity, although those who have had them may know new stats. I would have a talk with him and be as honest with him as you have here, and he may open up and tell you the scoop instead of speculating as I am with the information available. Good Luck

[mikesimon]

In the early days of treating transplant recipients rejection was a concern when starting a transplant recipient on interferon but after some experience it doesn't seem be a big risk - rejection that is. But, I seem to recall that there have been instances of rejection following interferon treatment but they are not common. His liver problem may be as a result of the HCV or another factor. I would think his doctors would be able to tell you the cause of his situation.

Regarding mycoldfeet's statement: :A liver transplant is hard to predict, the average is 5-10 years longivity, although those who have had them may know new stats."
That is not true at all and I have no idea where those numbers came from. With hepatitis c transplants they do see fibrosis and/or cirrhosis in 20% of transplant recipients by 5 years if they do not treat their HCV but that is about the size of it. Liver transplants live significantly longer than 5 years. I am at 6.5 years and I only have stage 1-2 fibrosis.

From:http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2006/101306_c.html
For women, median post-transplant survival was 26 years, compared with 31 for the general population.
For men, median post-transplant survival was 18 years, compared with 27 for the general population.

Regarding the statement: "Many people must clear the virus after a transplant,...."
All HCV liver recipients should clear the virus after transplant but most do not achieve that, unfortunately.

I think people should be cautious about offering information on a subject about which they are uninformed. While none of us are doctors we should nevertheless attempt to state accurate information or say nothing at all rather than speculate and misinform.

I wish your Dad good luck. Mike