DAA-based antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C in the pre- and postkidney transplantation setting

DAA-based regimens for chronic hepatitis C infection encourage treatment of "difficult-to-treat" cohorts. This study investigated efficacy and safety of DAA-based regimens in HCV patients on dialysis or postkidney or liver/kidney transplantation. Twenty-five patients treated with DAA combinations were evaluated: 10 were on dialysis (eight: hemodialysis, two: peritoneal dialysis), eight were kidney transplant recipients, and seven were liver/kidney transplant recipients. Except for one patient treated with daclatasvir ([DCV]/60 mg/QD)/simeprevir ([SMV]/150 mg/QD), the others received sofosbuvir-based regimens ([SOF]; 400 mg/QD) combined with SMV: eight, DCV: 13 or either ledipasvir ([LDV] 90 mg/QD), ribavirin ([RBV]; weight based) or pegylated interferon/RBV. HCV-RNA was determined by Abbott RealTime (LLOQ]: 12 IU/ml) or Roche AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan assay (LLOQ: 15 IU/ml); treatment response evaluated every 4 weeks, at the end of treatment, and 4 and 12 weeks thereafter. Twenty-four (96%) patients achieved SVR 12/24 (ITT-analysis). Mean treatment duration was 15.1 +/- 5.1 weeks (+/- SD), and two patients terminated prematurely - both reached SVR12. Six patients were hospitalized due to complications of underlying disease. One patient achieved SVR24 but was re-infected (week 27). Kidney function remained stable; serum creatinine increased in only one patient - SOF was reduced to 400 mg/48 h. Treatment with DAA combinations in renally impaired HCV patients is highly effective and well tolerated. These findings call for further controlled trials and data from real-life cohorts.