Naslov
Efficacy of interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in dialysis patients : two therapeutic protocols compared

Autori
Grgurević, Ivica ; Vince, Adriana ; Buljevac, Mladen ; Banić, Marko ; Jeren-Strujić, Branka ; Kes, Petar ; Kujundžić, Milan ; Leko, Ninoslav ; Lukić, Ivan Krešimir ; Slavićek, Jasna

Izvornik
Nephron. Clinical practice (1660-2110) 103 (2006), 1; C8-C11

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
interferon alpha; chronic hepatitis C; dyalisis
(nterferon alpha; chronic hepatitis C; dyalisis)

Sažetak
Data on the efficacy of particular therapeutic protocols of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients on hemodialysis (HD) vary. AIim was to compare the efficacy of two different therapeutic protocols for HD patients. 15 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients on chronic HD at two dialysis centers: 8 patients treated with IFN-alpha 3 x 3 MU/week s.c. for 6 months (group A), and 7 patients treated with IFN-alpha 3 x 5 MU/week for 3 months, then 1 x 5 MU/week for another 3 months (group B). End of treatment response (ETR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were evaluated by HCV-RNA determination. There was no statistically significant difference between the two patient groups according to age, sex, duration of HD and HCV infection. ETR was 87.5% (7/8) in group A and 28.5% (2/7) in group B, being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although better SVR [50% (4/8) vs. 28.5% (2/7)] and lower drop-out rate [0% (0/8) vs. 28.5% (2/7)] were achieved in group A compared to group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Therapy with IFN-alpha 3 x 3 MU/week s.c. for 6 months seems to be more appropriate for treatment of hepatitis C in HD patients, mostly due to better tolerability, i.e. lower drop-out rate. These differences could be attributed to different pharmacokinetic properties of the particular therapy protocol. 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA