title: Pegylated interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients in Croatia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a frequent complication among long-term dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of pegylated interferon-α(2a) (PEG-IFN-α(2a)) treatment in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed charts of 16 HCV-RNA-positive hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 male and 5 female patients treated with dialysis for 6-28 years. Twelve patients had HCV genotype 1b, 2 patients had 3a, and 1 patient had genotype 2a. Although only 10 out of 16 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment, early virological response and end-of-treatment virological response were achieved in 9 and 13 patients, respectively. Sustained virological response was recorded in 9 patients. The most common side effect was anemia. A flu-like syndrome was documented in 6, myalgia in 4, and arthralgia in 5 patients. Rectorrhagia, endocarditis and severe cough were recorded in 1 patient each. Nine patients received a renal transplant, and all 6 responders remained HCV-RNA-negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEG-IFN-α(2a) has limited efficacy in dialysis patients. A significant proportion of patients discontinued treatment because of side effects. Additional studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the optimal treatment of HCV infection in the dialysis population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension and Dialysis, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. nina_basic@net.hr
authors.forename: Nikolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basic-Jukic
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulin
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slavicek
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coric-Martinovic
authors.forename: Bosiljka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iskra
authors.forename: Sanjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Racki
authors.forename: Milenka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sain
authors.forename: Rajko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ostojić
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hrstic
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ljutic
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vucelic
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a