Efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon α-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronichepatitis C.METHODS: Thirty-six hemodialysis patients with chronichepatitis C were enrolled in a controlled and prospectivestudy. All patients were treatment naive, positivetested for anti-HCV antibodies, and positive tested forserum HCV-RNA. Twenty-two patients received 135 μgpeglyated-interferon a-2a weekly for 48 wk (group A).The remaining patients were left untreated, elevenrefused therapy, and three were not candidates forkidney transplantation and were allocated to the controlgroup (group B). At the end of the treatment biochemicaland virological response was evaluated, and 24 wk aftercompletetion of therapy sustained virological response(SVR) was assessed. Side effects were monitored.RESULTS: Of 22 hemodialysis patients, 12 were maleand 10 female, with a mean age of 35.2 ± 12.1 years.Virological end-of-treatment response was observed in14 patients (82.4%) in group A and in one patient (7.1%)in group B (P = 0.001). Sustained virological responsewas observed in 11 patients (64.7%) in group A and inone patient in group B (7.1%). Biochemical responseparameters normalized in 10/14 patients (71.4%) at theend of the treatment. ALT levels in group B were initiallyhigh in six patients and normalized in one of them (25%)at the end of the 48 wk. In five patients (22.7%) therapyhad to be stopped at mo 4 due to complications ofweakness, anemia, and bleeding.CONCLUSION: SVR could be achieved in 64.7% ofpatients on hemodialysis with chronic hepatitis C by atreatment with peglyated-interferon a-2a. Group A hada significantly better efficacy compared to the controlgroup B, but the side effects need to be concerned.