post tx w/hep c

Im post tx 12/2008.w/ hep c. Hep-c is eating away again at my liver. Biopsy stage 2-3 grade-2 periportal fibrosis. After my transplant I was never placed on interferon maintenance dose due to depression and anemia. I think to this day that they should have done this.Can interferon alone  be used alone as a maintenance drug to keep the liver from becoming fibrotic? Is it true that interferon helps to get rid of existing fibrosis?  Kidneys starting to be affected by immunosuppressants(creatine 1.6) (bun36) (gfr 48.).Are there any medications in trial that can reduce fibrosis?

Im being told that there will be clinical trials for post tx -hep c on immunosuppresants treated with teplavir ,interferon, ribaviron in 11/11.What is your opinion of rolling the dice with a trial as I hear it could be lethal?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

interferon can cause a lot of side effects so pre-emptive or maintenance therapy are really not indicated.  standard therapy with interferon and ribavirin should be contemplated.  there will be clinical trials coming down the road with regard the new medicines in the per-transplant setting. I would be wary of using them outside of a clinical trial because of significant concerns regarding their effects on the metabolism of prograf and cyclosporine.