Research Article, J Virol Antivir Res Vol: 3 Issue: 1
Response-Guided Peginterferon α-2a Monotherapy for Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
| Kenjiro Yamakawa1, Sawako Kobayashi Uchida2, Tomoyuki Yamakawa1, Akihiro Tamori2 and Norifumi Kawada2 |
| 1Department of Nephrology, Shirasagi Hospital, Osaka, Japan |
| 2Department of Hepatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan |
| Corresponding author : Kenjiro Yamakawa, MD Department of Nephrology, Shirasagi Hospital, 7-11-23 , Kumata, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 546-0002, Japan Tel: +81 6 6714 1661 E-mail: ken-yamakawa@shirasagi-hp.or.jp |
| Received: February 10, 2014 Accepted: May 13, 2014 Published: May 15, 2014 |
| Citation: Yamakawa K, Uchida SK, Yamakawa T, Tamori A, Kawada N, et al. (2014) Response-Guided Peginterferon a-2a Monotherapy for Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. J Virol Antivir Res 3:1. doi:10.4172/2324-8955.1000119 |
Abstract
Response-Guided Peginterferon α-2a Monotherapy for Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
Background: Hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have a poor prognosis and ribavirin combination therapy is problematic in these patients. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of response-guided peginterferonα-2a (PEG-IFNα-2a) monotherapy in hemodialysis patients with HCV. Associations with the IL-28B polymorphism were also examined. Methods: After 4 weeks of PEG-IFNα-2a therapy, 21 patients were allocated to two different treatment periods. Those who tested negative for HCV RNA at this point (rapid virological response, RVR) were treated for 48 weeks and those who remained positive (non-RVR) were treated for 72 weeks. We evaluated the rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events.
