Following a transplant for hepatitis C cirrhosis, the infection comes back in 70-90% of cases and over time causes fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis of the new liver. The aim of this study was to see if the frequency of liver fibrosis was different with cyclosporine microemulsion than tacrolimus
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
361
Initial dose of 10-15mg/kg/day either orally, via a nasogastric (NG) tube or intravenously (i.v.) within the first 24 hours post-transplantation.
Tacrolimus was administered within the first 24 hours post-transplantation at an initial dose of 0.1-0.15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses either orally or via a nasogastric (NG) tube or intravenously (i.v).
Novartis Investigative Site
East Hanover, New Jersey, United States
Novartis Investigational Site
Zurich, Switzerland
Number of Participants With Fibrosis Score 2 or Above [Ishak-Knodell Fibrosis Score (FS) ≥ 2] Within 1 Year Post-transplant
Assessment of hepatic fibrosis was performed with liver biopsies at Day 1, Month 6, 12 and 24, read centrally by two independent pathologists blinded to treatment arm and time of biopsy. Ishak-Knodell score was used to stage liver disease; 0= None; 1= Portal fibrosis (some); 2= Portal fibrosis (most); 3= Bridging fibrosis (few); 4= Bridging fibrosis (many); 5 = Incomplete cirrhosis; 6 = Cirrhosis. Higher score indicates greater fibrosis. Logistic regression on the presence of IK\>=2 was applied based on central biopsy readings only.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Combined Endpoint of Death or Graft Loss or Fibrosis Score (FS) ≥ 2
The number of participants with combined end point of death or graft loss or presented with a Ishak-Knodell fibrosis score (FS) ≥2 was calculated. Graft loss was considered to have occurred when allograft was presumed to be lost if a patient had liver retransplant or died. Assessment of hepatic fibrosis was performed with liver biopsies read centrally. Ishak-Knodell FS was used to stage liver disease; 0=none; 1=portal fibrosis (some); 2=portal fibrosis (most); 3=bridging fibrosis (few); 4=bridging fibrosis (many); 5=Incomplete cirrhosis; 6=cirrhosis. Higher score indicates greater fibrosis.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Fibrosing Cholestatic Hepatitis
Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) is characterized by progressive jaundice with a rapid decline in liver function leading to liver failure, most often associated with markedly elevated viral levels detected in the bloodstream (e.g. more than 20 times pre-liver transplantation levels) and in the liver tissue as well. The presence of FCH was reported based on the diagnosis given by the investigator.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplantation
Number of Participants With Death, Graft Loss, Death or Graft Loss, Graft Loss With Re-transplantation
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Graft loss was considered to have occurred when allograft was presumed to be lost if a patient had a liver re-transplant or died.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Treated Acute Rejection, Biopsy Proven Acute Rejection (BPAR), and Sub-clinical Rejection
Treated acute rejection is defined as an acute rejection, clinically suspected, whether biopsy-proven or not, which has been treated and confirmed by the investigator according to the response to therapy. BPAR was defined as a treated acute rejection confirmed by biopsy. The local pathologist graded biopsies according to the Banff (1997) criteria. A sub-clinical rejection was defined as a rejection identified by center driven biopsy, i.e. a biopsy performed routinely at some pre-defined time points after transplantation as per center practice in the absence of any clinical signs of rejection.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Combined Endpoint of Death or Graft Loss or Biopsy Proven Acute Rejection (BPAR)
BPAR was defined as a treated acute rejection confirmed by biopsy. The local pathologist graded biopsies according to the Banff (1997) criteria. Graft loss was considered to have occurred when allograft was presumed to be lost if a patient had a liver re-transplant or died.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Death or Re-transplantation Due to Recurrence of Hepatitis C Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis was resulted due to the recurrence of the hepatitis C virus infection in the transplanted liver.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Number of Participants With Fibrosis Score 2 or Above [Ishak-Knodell Fibrosis Score (FS) ≥ 2] Within 1 Year Post-transplant (Intent to Treat Population)
Assessment of hepatic fibrosis was performed with liver biopsies at Day 1, Month 6, 12 and 24, read centrally by two independent pathologists blinded to treatment arm and time of biopsy. Ishak-Knodell score was used to stage liver disease; 0= None; 1= Portal fibrosis (some); 2= Portal fibrosis (most); 3= Bridging fibrosis (few); 4= Bridging fibrosis (many); 5 = Incomplete cirrhosis; 6 = Cirrhosis. Higher score indicates greater fibrosis.
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Mean Value of Liver Function Tests at 1 Year Post-transplantation
The mean value (in Units per liter, IU/L) of following tests were calculated at 1 year post-transplant: * Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) * Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) * Bilirubin * Alkaline Phosphate * γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT)
Time frame: 1 year post-transplant
Log-transformed Hepatitis C Virus Ribonucleic Acid (HCV RNA) Values up to 1 Year Post Transplant
HCV RNA was measured (IU/µL)centrally pre-transplant (Day 1) and at 48 hours (Day 3), Day 8 and 29, Month 6 and 12 post-transplant and concomitantly to any additional biopsies performed.
Time frame: Pre-transplant (Day 1), Day , Day 8, Day 29, Month 6 and 12 post- transplant
Percentage of Participants With an Increase of at Least 1 Stage in Fibrosis
Assessment of hepatic fibrosis was performed with liver biopsies at Day 1, Month 6, 12 and 24, read centrally by two independent pathologists blinded to treatment arm and time of biopsy. Ishak-Knodell score was used to stage liver disease; 0= None; 1= Portal fibrosis (some); 2= Portal fibrosis (most); 3= Bridging fibrosis (few); 4= Bridging fibrosis (many); 5 = Incomplete cirrhosis; 6 = Cirrhosis. Higher score indicates greater fibrosis. An increase of at least 1 stage demonstrated a worsening of the disease, i.e. the transition from one score to the next higher one.
Time frame: Between 1 and 2 years
Mean Fibrosis Score
Assessment of hepatic fibrosis was performed with liver biopsies at Day 1, Month 6, 12 and 24, read centrally by two independent pathologists blinded to treatment arm and time of biopsy. Ishak-Knodell score was used to stage liver disease; 0= None; 1= Portal fibrosis (some); 2= Portal fibrosis (most); 3= Bridging fibrosis (few); 4= Bridging fibrosis (many); 5 = Incomplete cirrhosis; 6 = Cirrhosis. Higher score indicates greater fibrosis. The mean score was equivalent to mean of IK at 1 and 2 years (evolution over time).
Time frame: At 1and 2 years and its evolution over time