title: Therapeutic aspects of hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since hemodialysis (HD) patients usually suffer from multiple clinical problems and drug side effects, the treatment of hepatitis C in these patients still remains a challenging problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified eligible studies using a wide-spectrum search up to May 2007 in MEDLINE (since 1966) and EMBASE (since 1980). Two researchers (S.M.H.M. and M.R.) independently reviewed the manuscripts identified by the search strategy. To determine the most current information, only studies that had been published after 1995 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interferon (IFN)-alpha has long been used for this purpose; however, more recently the advent of pegylated (PEG) IFN has proven to be more beneficial in these patients. Even though the usage of ribavirin is promising in the case of hepatitis C in otherwise healthy subjects, the utilization of this drug in patients with renal failure may be accompanied by catastrophic complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although both conventional IFN and PEG-IFN seem to be favorable options for the management of hepatitis C in HD patients, further studies on new therapeutic agents are required.
authors: Urology and Nephrology Research Center (UNRC), Shahid Beheshti University, M.C. (SBUMS), Tehran, Iran.
authors: Seyed Mohammadmehdi
authors: SM
authors: Hosseini Moghaddam
authors: Seyed Moayed
authors: SM
authors: Alavian
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Rahnavardi
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents