Kokoglu, OFUçmak, HHosoglu, SCetinkaya, AKantarceken, BBuyukbese, MAIsik, IO2024-04-242024-04-2420060815-93191440-1746https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04008.xhttps://hdl.handle.net/11468/17588Background and Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is prevalent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. These patients experience more side-effects with antiviral treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2a in chronic hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: Twenty-five patients were included into the study. All of the patients were interferon naive, anti-HCV antibodies positive and polymerase chain reaction HCV-RNA positive. Twelve of the patients received PEG-IFN alpha-2a at a dose of 135 mu g weekly for 48 weeks (Group 1). The remaining 13 patients who received no specific treatment were used as controls (Group 2). The patients were prospectively followed up for a period of 18 months. Biochemical and virological responses were evaluated at the end of the study period (end-of-treatment response) and 6 months after the completion of therapy (sustained response). Results: Virological end-of-treatment response was observed in 10 patients (83.4%) in Group 1 and one patient (7.7%) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Sustained virological response was observed in nine patients (75%) in Group 1 and one patient (7.7%) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were initially increased in seven patients in Group 1 and normalized in five of these patients at the end of the treatment and sustained biochemical response was 71.4%. In contrast, ALT levels in Group 2 were initially high in five patients and normalized in two of them (40%) at the end of the 48 weeks. Even if most of the patients experienced several side-effects (anemia 75%, fatigue 58.3%, thrombocytopenia 33.3% and leukopenia 33.3%), they did not impose the discontinuation of the treatment. Conclusion: The present study showed that PEG-IFN alpha-2a for 48 weeks is efficacious and well tolerated in hemodialysis patients with HCV. (C) 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessChronic Hepatitis CChronic Renal FailureDialysisPegylated InterferonTolerabilityArticle213575580WOS:0002360353000152-s2.0-336450341861663810210.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04008.xQ1Q3