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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2006; 12(26): 4191-4194
Published online Jul 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i26.4191
Pegylated-interferon alpha 2a treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients on chronic haemodialysis
Ioan Sporea, Alina Popescu, Roxana Şirli, Ovidiu Golea, Camelia Totolici, Mirela Dănilă, Corina Vernic
Ioan Sporea, Alina Popescu, Roxana Şirli, Mirela Dănilă, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babeş” Timişoara, Romania
Ovidiu Golea, Camelia Totolici, Department of Haemodialysis and Renal Transplantation, County Hospital Timişoara, Romania
Corina Vernic, Department of Medical Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babeş” Timişoara, Romania
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Ioan Sporea, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Gastroenterology, 156, Iosif Bulbuca str. 300736 Timisoara, Romania. isporea@excite.com
Telephone: +40-256-309455 Fax: +40-256-309455
Received: November 14, 2005
Revised: January 10, 2006
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: July 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the response to pegylated-interferon alpha 2a in chronic hepatitis C patients on chronic haemodialysis.

METHODS: Ten patients with chronic C hepatitis were enrolled in this study. All had increased aminotransferases for more than 6 mo, positive antiHCV antibodies and positive PCR HCV-RNA. We administrated Peg-Interferon alpha 2a 180 μg/wk for 48 wk. After 12 wk of treatment we evaluated the biochemical and early virological response (EVR). At the end of the treatment we evaluated the biochemical response and 24 wk after the end of the treatment we evaluated the sustained virological response (SVR). We monitored the side-effects during the treatment.

RESULTS: Two patients dropped out in the first 12 wk of treatment and 2 after the first 12 wk of treatment. After 12 wk of treatment, 7 out of 8 patients had biochemical response and EVR and 1 had biochemical response but persistent viremia. We had to reduce the dose of pegylated-interferon to 135 μg/wk in 2 cases. Three out of 6 (50%) patients had SVR 24 wk after the end of the treatment. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that 3 out of 10 patients (30%) had SVR. Side-effects occurred in most of the patients (flu-like syndrome, thrombocytopenia or leucopoenia), but they did not impose the discontinuation of treatment.

CONCLUSION: After 12 wk of treatment with Peg-Interferon alpha 2a (40 ku) in patients on chronic haemodialysis with chronic C hepatitis, EVR was obtained in 87.5% (7/8) of the cases. SVR was achieved in 50% of the cases (3/6 patients) that finished the 48 wk of treatment.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; Pegylated-interferon alpha 2a; Haemodialysis; Biochemical response; Virological response