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High SVR rates met among HCV patients undergoing dialysis
NEW YORK — A majority of patients with hepatitis C virus infection genotype 1b low viral load who required dialysis achieved sustained virologic response with interferon-beta monotherapy, according to data presented at the AASLD/EASL Special Conference on Hepatitis C.
Twenty-five chronic dialysis patients with HCV in Japan underwent treatment with IFN-beta monotherapy to determine its safety and efficacy. All patients had homozygous interleukin-28 beta; 20 had HCV non-genotype 1b infection or genotype 1b low viral load, and five had HCV genotype 1b high viral load infection.
Twenty patients with low viral load, who were anticipated to respond, received 300 x 104 units IFN-beta intravenously three times weekly during dialysis. The dose was increased to 600 x 104 units, and treatment was continued up to 48 weeks for patients with low response or decreased viral load. The five patients with high viral load received the same initial dose twice daily for 2 weeks and eventually increased to 600 x 104 units IFN-beta three times weekly for up to 48 weeks. They also underwent five double filtration plasmapheresis sessions to remove HCV when not undergoing dialysis.
Ninety percent of patients expected to respond to therapy achieved SVR without adverse events that interrupted or stopped treatment. Two high viral load patients met SVR, two relapsed and one did not respond to therapy. There were no severe side effects reported during treatment.
“The present data demonstrate the usefulness of IFN-beta monotherapy especially in the patients whose HCV genotype was other than 1 or had low viral load,” the researchers wrote. “This treatment, given with direct-acting antiviral agents, is anticipated to become established as a useful strategy for managing dialysis patients in the future.”
For more information:
Zeniya M. Abstract #25. Presented at: AASLD/EASL Special Conference on Hepatitis C, Sept. 12-13, 2014; New York.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.