Long-term follow up of sustained viral response after treatment of hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of sustained viral response after treatment of hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients.


METHODS
14 hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a for a period of 48 weeks. Achieved sustained viral response rate was 35.7% (5/14 patients) at week 72, i.e. 24 weeks after the treatment ended. All treated patients were then prospectively followed until week 144. Follow-up viral data, such as HCV antibodies, serum HCV RNA, and HCV RNA genotype, were determined at week 96 and week 144. HCV antibodies were determined by a 3rd-generation ELISA assay. The presence of HCV RNA was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (AMPLICOR Hepatitis C Virus Test). HCV genotype was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by hybridization of amplified products. The biochemical data were recorded every 24 weeks during the follow-up period.


RESULTS
The 5 patients (35.7%), who achieved sustained viral response (SVR), remained HCV RNA negative at week 96. At week 144, 4 hemodialysis patients (28.6%) remained HCV RNA negative. There was a relapse of HCV infection in 1 patient after week 96 of the study. The patients who remained HCV RNA negative also maintained the achieved biochemical response throughout the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term follow-up of treated hemodialysis patients with pegylated interferon alpha-2a showed persistence of the sustained viral and biochemical response.
University Clinic of Nephrology, Skopje - Macedonia.
Pavlina
P
Dzekova
Arben
A
Asani
Gjulsen
G
Selim
Saso
S
Gelev
Lada
L
Trajceska
Vili
V
Amitov
Nexheni
N
Selja
Mustafa
M
Zabzun
Sami
S
Mena
Magdalena
M
Gaseva
Alexander
A
Sikole
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a