Hepatitis C virus core antigen testing in liver and kidney transplant recipients.

HCV RNA levels correlate with the long-term outcome of hepatitis C in liver transplant recipients. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) is usually used to confirm HCV reinfection and to examine viral loads after liver transplantation. HCV core antigen (HCVcoreAg) testing could be an alternative to NAT with some potential advantages including very low intra- and interassay variabilities and lower costs. The performance of HCVcoreAg testing in organ transplant recipients is unknown. We prospectively studied 1011 sera for HCV RNA and HCVcoreAg in a routine real-world setting including 222 samples obtained from patients after liver or kidney transplantation. HCV RNA and HCVcoreAg test results showed a consistency of 98% with a very good correlation in transplanted patients (r > 0.85). The correlation between HCV RNA and HCVcoreAg was higher in sera with high viral loads and in samples from patients with low biochemical disease. Patients treated with tacrolimus showed a better correlation between both parameters than individuals receiving cyclosporine A. HCV RNA/HCVcoreAg ratios did not differ between transplanted and nontransplanted patients, and HCV RNA and HCVcoreAg kinetics were almost identical during the first days after liver transplantation. HCVcoreAg testing can be used to monitor HCV viral loads in patients after organ transplantation. However, the assay is not recommended to monitor antiviral therapies.

Endoscopic closure of esophageal intrathoracic leaks: stent versus endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure, a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Placement of covered self-expanding metal or plastic stents (SEMS or SEPS) is an established method for managing intrathoracic leaks. Recently, endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) has been described as a new effective treatment option. Our aim was to compare stent placement with EVAC for nonsurgical closure of intrathoracic anastomotic leaks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective analysis we were able to identify 39 patients who were treated with SEMS or SEPS and 32 patients who were treated with EVAC for intrathoracic leakage. In addition to successful fistula closure, we analyzed hospital mortality, number of endoscopic interventions, incidence of stenoses, and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, successful wound closure was independently associated with EVAC therapy (hazard ratio 2.997, 95 % confidence interval [95 %CI] 1.568 - 5.729; P = 0.001). The overall closure rate was significantly higher in the EVAC group (84.4 %) compared with the SEMS/SEPS group (53.8 %). No difference was found for hospitalization and hospital mortality. We found significantly more strictures in the stent group (28.2 % vs. 9.4 % with EVAC, P < 0,05). CONCLUSIONS: EVAC is an effective endoscopic treatment option for intrathoracic leaks and showed higher effectiveness than stent placement in our cohort.