Lisa Jones presented a paper [PMID: 21538434] on female sex as a predictor of advanced recurrent disease, mortality and graft loss after liver transplantation. This was a retrospective study with limited information available via chart review about certain variables such as etiology of graft loss, immunosuppressive regimen, and possible additional confounders. Overall, the study raised numerous additional questions. We wondered if HCC status gave transplant priority to some of the men in the study. We also discussed how a high MELD score in women may actually be associated with worse and more advanced disease in women compared to men with the same scope. Should prioritization by MELD scores be adjusted for sex?
Cindy Moylan presented a multi-arm phase II study [PMID: 21699786] on the use of telaprevir alone or in combination peginterferon and ribavirin in HCV. Telaprevir has an effect on genotype 2 HCV, but not on genotype 3. In patients who have failed prior therapy for HCV genotype 2, the addition of telaprevir may be reasonable.
