Sustained response with negative serum HCV-mRNA and disappearance of antibodies after interferon-alpha therapy in a kidney transplant recipient with chronic active viral hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
The use of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to treat viral hepatitis C (HCV) occurring in kidney transplant recipients is controversial. This study reports an HCV patient successfully treated with IFN-alpha therapy achieving sustained response, negative serum HCV-mRNA and the disappearance of HCV antibodies, without impairment of renal function.


METHODS
A young kidney transplant recipient developed a proven HCV infection 70 months post-transplantation. The patient received IFN-alpha therapy, and for a 32-month follow-up period was evaluated clinically, serologically and virologically.


RESULTS
IFN-alpha therapy resulted in normal transaminase activities within 2 months. Serum HCV-mRNA was negative after 4 weeks of treatment and is still negative. Ten months after IFN-alpha therapy withdrawal, the enzyme immunoassay revealed that HCV antibodies (HCVAb) were absent in the serum. IFN-alpha therapy was safe, well tolerated and renal function was not impaired.
Luciani
Giovanna
G
Institute of Clinical Surgery, Cattolica del S. Cuore University, Rome, Italy.
Bossola
Maurizio
M
Muscaritoli
Maurizio
M
Panocchia
Nicola
N
Ferrante
Angela
A
Nanni
Giuseppe
G
Piccioni
Emanuele
E
Tazza
Luigi
L
Grillo
Rita Luciana
RL
Rossi Fanelli
Filippo
F
Castagneto
Marco
M
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000637:Transaminases