Abstract

The prevalance of anti-HCV in haemodialysis patients is higher than the healthy population. Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important problem for hemodialysis patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of interferon monotherapy in hemodialysis patients with chronic HCV. Twenty-two hemodialysis patients were included in this study and followed up for a median time of 24 months. 3 million units (MU) interferon-α 2b (Intron A:Schering Plough) monotherapy was started three times a week (t.i.w) for 12 months to all of the patients who were clinically, biochemically and serologically diagnosed to have chronic HCV infection. HCV-RNA was determined with PCR in before of therapy, in 3th and the end of the 12th months of treatment. At the same time HCV-RNA and ALT levels were determined to evaluate whether the effectiveness of the therapy is of long-term after the end of therapy and in 6th and 12th months following the treatment. In the third month of interferon treatment, HCV-RNA was negative in 16 (72.7%) of 22 patients, and serum ALT level was normal. The treatment was stopped in 2 (9%) of the patients due to severe side effects. One of these 16 patients was learned to have died suddenly in his house in the 4 th month of the treatment. Of these 16 patients, 15 patients completed the treatment. HCV-RNA was detected to be positive in 4 and negative in 11 of these 15 patients in the end of treatment. However, sustained viral response (SVR) rate was 36.4 % in 12 months after the end of treatment.