Immunomonitoring of NFAT-regulated gene expression in liver allograft recipients under telaprevir based hepatitis C therapy reveals significant impact on residual gene activity

Protease-inhibitor based antiviral therapy of HCV reinfection after liver transplantation constitutes a difficult task due to drug-drug interactions, reduced tolerance and severe side effects. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical course, dose adjustment and blood concentrations of immunosuppressive drugs as well as biomarkers of immunosuppressive effects by immunomonitoring of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) -regulated gene expression of HCV-positive liver transplant patients during telaprevir containing triple therapy. All 5 patients were HCV-RNA negative at treatm…