Summary of hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related issues.
HCV infection is common in stem cell recipients (5–70%)
Ongoing or previous infection with HCV is not a contraindication for bone marrow transplantation (BMT)
HCV infection is associated with increased susceptibility to veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but does not appear to impact 5- to 10-year survival
Fibrosis progresses more rapidly in the setting of BMT and liver-related mortality is the third leading cause of late death
Selected long-term survivors should be considered for antiviral therapy
Pegylated interferon and ribavirin can be safely administered to patients who have been off immunosuppression for > 6 months and who have no evidence of GVHD or myelosuppression
HCV infection is common in stem cell recipients (5–70%)
Ongoing or previous infection with HCV is not a contraindication for bone marrow transplantation (BMT)
HCV infection is associated with increased susceptibility to veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but does not appear to impact 5- to 10-year survival
Fibrosis progresses more rapidly in the setting of BMT and liver-related mortality is the third leading cause of late death
Selected long-term survivors should be considered for antiviral therapy
Pegylated interferon and ribavirin can be safely administered to patients who have been off immunosuppression for > 6 months and who have no evidence of GVHD or myelosuppression