Evaluation of telaprevir-containing triple therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysed patients

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Eradication of HCV before transplantation is therefore of utmost importance in HCV-infected patients with ESRD who are candidates for kidney transplantation. The appropriate treatment for HCV infection in patients with ESRD and suboptimal response rates is still unclear. Here, we present our data from five cases who were being monitored by two healthcare centers for ESRD and HCV infection, who were candidates for kidney transplantation and were treated with a triple regimen containing telaprevir. All patients were started on triple therapy from the beginning including pegylated interferon-alfa2a (135 μg once a week), ribavirin (200 mg three times a week), and telaprevir (750 mg three times a day). Rapid virologic response was observed in all of the patients but treatment was discontinued in one patient at week 6 because the patient developed nausea and vomiting and was unable to feed orally. For the remaining four patients, side effects included weakness, lack of appetite, metallic taste, and mild anemia. The triple therapy with telaprevir seemed to be successful in HCV-infected patients who were candidates for renal transplantation.

Keywords::

• Hepatitis C virus
• ESRD
• telaprevir
• triple therapy
• hemodialysis

Declaration of interest: No conflicts of interest to declare. No funding was received.