Liver transplant and hepatitis C in methadone maintenance therapy: a case report

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2007 Feb 1:2:5. doi: 10.1186/1747-597X-2-5.

Abstract

Methadone maintenance therapy for the treatment of opioid dependence continues to carry a social stigma. Until recently, patients on methadone were not considered for liver transplantation. We describe the first case of a patient on methadone who received a liver transplant for end stage liver disease and was successfully treated for recurrent hepatitis C. More than five years post transplant and three years post viral clearance, the patient continues to do well and is stable on low-dose methadone. This case emphasizes the need to reconsider the non-evidence based policy adopted by transplant centers that require methadone maintenance therapy patients to stop methadone prior to consideration for transplant evaluation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Interferons / administration & dosage
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Methadone / therapeutic use*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / complications
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons
  • Methadone