title: Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon base treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C on dialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis are difficult to treat and show higher dropout rates during treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the treatment outcomes in patients with CHC and underlying end-stage renal disease on dialysis in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective multi-center study of 35 patients with CHC and underlying ESRD on regular dialysis from 13 centers were analyzed. We investigated the tolerability and efficacy of pegylated interferon therapy with or without ribavirin on dialysis patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients (57%) were genotype 1. Sixteen patients (46%) were treated with pegylated interferon monotherapy. Nineteen patients (54%) were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The overall sustained virological response (SVR) rate was 65.7% in all subjects. Thirteen patients (37%) dropped out before completion of treatment, and six patients (46.2%) showed SVR despite premature termination of treatment. Twenty patients (90.9%) achieved SVR among the 22 patients who completed the scheduled course. The most common side effects were anemia and neutropenia. The patients receiving ribavirin treatment showed a higher dropout rate (52.6% vs. 18.8%, p=0.04) and higher SVR rate (68.4% vs. 62.5%, p=0.07) compared to the pegylated interferon mono-treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difficulty in treating HCV patients with ESRD was attributed to higher dropout rate. However, despite the high dropout rate (37%), the SVR rate in genotype 1 was 65% and in genotypes 2 and 3 was 66%. Patients who completed the treatment showed a high SVR rate of 89.5%.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sang Bong
authors: SB
authors: Ahn
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: noshin@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors: Dae Won
authors: DW
authors: Jun
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sang Gyune
authors: SG
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sae Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun Phil
authors: HP
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Won Hyeok
authors: WH
authors: Choe
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ja Kyung
authors: JK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyu Sik
authors: KS
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Do Young
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Shim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Soo Young
authors: SY
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yeon Seok
authors: YS
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Won
authors: W
authors: Kim
authors: Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Il
authors: JI
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Dialysis; Hepatitis C; Pegylated interferon; Renal insufficiency