A case report of interferon beta monotherapy for high hepatitis C viral load in dialysis patients.
A 42-year-old male dialysis patient was infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and treated with interferon beta (IFN-beta) for a rapid increase in viral load. After dialysis three times a week, 3 million units of IFN-beta were intravenously infused for 1 h. The treatment was markedly effective, and the virus was eliminated in the sixth week. Therapy was continued for 24 weeks, and HCV negativity has been maintained for more than 6 months after the completion of administration. The blood IFN level slowly decreased immediately after administration. The mean trough level was 37 U/mL, and the half-life was 65 min. No adverse event requiring discontinuation of the treatment occurred, showing that IFN alone may safely eliminate the virus in dialysis patients with high hepatitis C viral load. Many dialysis patients are latently infected with HCV, and the infection affects the prognosis. Therefore, establishment of a therapeutic method is urgently needed.
Department of Nephrology, Moriguchi Keijinkai Hospital, Moriguchi, Japan. fumitaka@mti.biglobe.ne.jp
Fumitaka
F
Nakajima
Masayoshi
M
Fukii
Testuya
T
Kitamura
Aya
A
Sakaida
Masahiro
M
Sakaguchi
Hiroshi
H
Oka
Satoshi
S
Morimoto
Hiroya
H
Masaki
Hideki
H
Yamahara
Nobuhisa
N
Shibahara
Toru
T
Inoue
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016899:Interferon-beta