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When to Give Antivirals to Liver Transplant Patients

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol; ePub 2017 Jun 17; Samur, et al

Patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis C who are waiting for a liver transplant fare better with pre-liver transplant administration of direct acting antivirals if they have lower Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, suggests a recent mathematical model. Details of the analysis are as follows:

  • Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were higher in patients with MELD scores at or below 21 if they were given direct acting antivirals before transplantation.
  • On the other hand, DAAs were more cost effective/saving in patients with MELD scores at or above 22 when administrated after the surgery.

Citation:

Samur S, Kues B, Ayer T, et al. Cost-effectiveness of pre- versus post-liver transplant hepatitis C treatment with direct-acting antivirals. [Published online ahead of print June 17, 2017]. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.024.