The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine

Special Review: Korean J Med. 2015;88(6):647-650. Published online June 1, 2015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.6.647; 특수한 경우의 C형 간염 치료: 만성 콩팥병; 정우진; 계명대학교 의과대학 내과학교실; Treatment of Special Populations with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Chronic Kidney Disease; Woo Jin Chung; Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea; Corresponding author: Woo Jin Chung ,Tel: +82-53-250-7088, Fax: +82-53-250-7442, Email: chung50@dsmc.or.kr

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on hemodialysis. Chronic HCV infection in patients with end-stage renal disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the pre- and post-kidney transplant periods. Increased mortality is associated with liver complications and an elevated cardiovascular risk in HCV-infected patients on hemodialysis. Antiviral treatment may improve the prognosis of patients with HCV, and standard interferon remains the cornerstone of treatment. Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) are a potential new treatment modality for chronic HCV infection. Whatever DAA combination is administered, the use of ribavirin is still problematic in this population and this might affect the virological outcomes of some anti-HCV therapies.

Keywords :Hepatitis C, Renal insufficiency, Chronic, Renal dialysis