High Rate of Hepatitis C Virus Clearance in Hemodialysis Patients after Interferon-α Therapy

To gain insight into the long-term effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy on hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-positive hemodialysis patients, 23 subjects were given 3 MU of IFN-α 3 times a week for 6 (n = 12) or 12 months (n = 11). They were followed for 19 months after cessation of therapy. Sustained serum HCV RNA clearance occurred in 42% of patients treated for 6 months and in 64% of those treated for 12 months. HCV was eradicated from 6 of 13 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b and from 2 of 6 patients also infected with hepatitis G virus. HCV RNA remained undetectable in both serum and a liver biopsy of 2 patients who were given cadaveric kidney transplants after IFN-a treatment. These data suggest that HCV RNA-positive dialysis patients can be considered for treatment while receiving dialysis, particularly those awaiting transplant.