Objective We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of pegylated Interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) following renal transplantation.

Methods Ten adult living-related renal transplant recipients of >12-month duration, infected with HCV, and with stable renal graft function were recruited. All patients were administered with PEG-IFN-α 2b 50 μg/week, plus ribovirin 400–600 mg/day.HCV viral load was reexamined monthly. Consolidation therapy lasted for 3-9 months after initial remission of HCV-RNA. Viral response, adverse effects and changes in hemogram, alanine aminotransferase, and serum creatinine were also monitored.

Results The duration of treatment for 10 patients was 4-20 months. Sustained virologic response (SVR) occurred in 7 patients with no relapse during 6-month follow-up period after the cessation of the treatment. Two patients, with rapid virologic response, had a virologic relapse after completing their 3-month consolidation therapy. One patient maintained no obvious virologic response during 8 months of treatment. Renal function was kept in normal range in all patients and no one experienced a rejection episode during or after PEG-IFN-α 2b therapy. The major adverse reactions included influenza-like syndrome (fever, muscle soreness, anorexia et al.), transient bone marrow suppression and anemia. All of the adverse reactions were transient and tolerable, and no discontinuation of PEG-IFN-α 2b therapy was required in all these patients.

Conclusion For renal transplant recipients with stable renal graft function, treatment with PEG-IFN-α 2b and ribavirin has high efficacy in the treatment of chronic HCV and is not associated with high risk of acute rejection of renal allografts.

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