[Hepatitis C infections in dialyzed patients]

Przegl Epidemiol. 2005;59(2):541-7.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in dialyzed patients (pts) with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is higher than that of the general population. Generally it is thought that the course of hepatitis C is milder then in pts with normal renal function, but there is no agreement about natural history of HCV infection in dialyzed. Immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation (RTx) worsens the prognosis for pts with HCV infection. Additionally, actually available anti-HCV treatment is contraindicated after RTx due to the high risk of the graft rejection. That is the reason why antiviral therapy should be given before RTx and indications for treatment should be wider (treatment of HCV infection not only of hepatitis). The biggest number of papers addressed to anti-HCV treatment in dialyzed pts considers monotherapy with standard interferon. One out of two pegylated interferons was approved for dialyzed pts--but up to date there is no data about efficacy and safety of this compound in this group of pts. The use of ribavirin in ESRD pts is contraindicated due to the high risk of anemia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / surgery
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / virology
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b