title: Safety and Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2b Monotherapy in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Children with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis.
abstract: Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is an important issue before kidney transplantation (KT). The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of HCV treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN)-α 2b in children with ESRD. The study included 17 children, aged 3-18 years with ESRD on hemodialysis (HD), with chronic HCV. They received 40 μg/m2of PEG IFN-α 2b once-weekly subcutaneous injections for 48 weeks. Early virological response (EVR) was achieved in 76.5%. At week 24, 8 patients had negative HCV RNA. Six patients received KT during therapy. Treatment was discontinued in 2 patients: one for anemia and another for retinopathy. Two patients completed 48 weeks of therapy and both achieved end-of-treatment response and sustained virological response (SVR). Constitutional symptoms were the most frequently reported side effects. Neutropenia occurred in 10 patients (58.8%), drop in hemoglobin in 10, and thrombocytopenia in 9. HCV-infected children with ESRD on HD have high EVR (76.5%) on IFN monotherapy. SVR could not be assessed due to the high dropout rate related mainly to early transplantation. Constitutional symptoms and hematological side effects were the most frequently reported side effects.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Engy A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mogahed
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Haytham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghita
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pediatrics, National Research Centre , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdel Mawla
authors.affiliation: 3 Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Fetouh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hassanin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Fatina I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Fadel
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, Kasr Alainy Medical School, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: Hanaa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Karaksy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: chronic HCV; hemodialysis; pegylated interferon; side effects; treatment response