Safety and efficacy of interferon-beta therapy for hemodialysis patient with HCV

Abstract

The safety and effective method of interferon (IFN) therapy has still not been established in HD patients. Therefore, this study assessed the clinical significance of IFN-β therapy. The first patient was a 38-year-old male with a high baseline viral load and serotype 1. IFN-β (6 million units per day) was administered intravenously daily for 2 weeks, and subsequently administered on the day of HD therapy for the next 22 weeks. IFN-β was infused for 30 minutes before HD on the day of HD therapy. The patient achieved early virological response (EVR) but not sustained virological response (SVR). He received IFN-β re-treatment because HCV titer was increased after treatment. The same dose was administered intravenously daily for 1 week, and subsequently administered on the day of HD therapy for the next 2 years. IFN-β was infused for 30 minutes at the same time as starting HD. He had no side effects and was negative for HCV-RNA, but did not achieve SVR after further treatment for 2 years. The Cmax of IFN-β infused during the initial time of HD therapy was slightly high compared with that infused before HD (262±41pg/mL vs. 214.7±38.25pg/mL). The second patient was a 58-year-old male with a low baseline viral load and serotype 2. IFN-β was administered intravenously by the same protocol as re-treatment protocol in the first patient. He achieved SVR after 24 weeks. The dose of IFN-β (3 million unit per day) was changed after 8 weeks because of hypotension, and then the symptom improved. Cmax of IFN-β decreased from 259±43.9pg/mL to 143.5±5.09pg/mL. There were no other side effects. This study suggests that IFN-β is useful for HD patients from the perspective of safety and efficacy.