Long-term pegylated interferon-α-2a treatment for chronic hepatitis C in an elderly renal transplant recipient: case report and literature review.

Abstract

Combination treatment of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin for renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains controversial, as it has been associated with a high risk of rejection, resulting in graft loss and a reduction in patient survival.We present a special case of an elderly RTR who experienced treatment of HCV infection 8 years after renal transplant. There was no rejection episode during or after PEG-IFN treatment. The patient first received a 24-week therapy and a further 60-week course due to relapse. Cessation of both courses corresponded to an achieved end-of-treatment response. However, HCV infection reappeared shortly after cessation of the 60-week treatment period.This case highlights the safety of PEG-IFN therapy for elderly RTR and the potential importance of combination pretreatment for patients undergoing renal transplantation.

• Authors: Ming-Hua Zheng, Yong-Ping Chen
• Journal: Medicine (Medicine (Baltimore)) Vol. 94 Issue 1 Pg. e390 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1536-5964 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25569669 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Kidney Transplantation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy)
• Recombinant Proteins (therapeutic use)