title: Efficacy and tolerability of low-dose interferon-α in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of low-dose standard or pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 19 patients were enrolled in this study, of which 12 received PEG-IFNα-2a 67.5 μg 1 time/wk (Group 1) and 7 received standard interferon α-2b subcutaneously 1.5 × 10⁶ U 3 times/wk (Group 2). The treatment durations were 48 wk for patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and 24 wk for patients infected with HCV genotype 2/3. All patients were prospectively followed after the completion of therapy. The efficacy and tolerability of the treatment were evaluated based on the sustained virological response (SVR) and treatment-related drop-out rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group 1, 11 of the 12 patients completed the treatment. Early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) rates were 83.3% and 91.7%, respectively. One patient withdrew from treatment due to an adverse event (leukopenia). The drop-out rate was 8.3% in this group. In Group 2, 5 of the 7 patients completed the treatment with an EVR and SVR of 85.7% and 71.4%, respectively. Two patients withdrew due to treatment-related adverse events (nausea and depression). In this group, the drop-out rate was 28.6%. In total, 16 of the patients attained EVR, and 15 of them completed the treatment. The SVR rate for the patients who attained EVR was 93.7%. Anemia was the most frequent side effect and was observed in 10/19 patients (55.5%), but could be effectively managed with erythropoietin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose interferon monotherapy, either with PEG-IFNα-2a or standard interferon α-2b, is an effective treatment option for hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Han-Qian
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Deng-Lian
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Kai-Li Wang, Han-Qian Xing, Hong Zhao, Jun-Wei Liu, Deng-Lian Gao, Xue-Hua Zhang, Hong-Yu Yao, Li Yan, Jun Zhao, Department of Blood Purification, 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; End-stage renal disease; Hemodialysis; Hepatitis C virus; Peginterferon
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