Does hepatitis B virus coinfection have any impact on treatment outcome in hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis?

• Published in: Annals of hepatology Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 317 - 324
• Main Authors: Wahle, Raul Carlos, Perez, Renata de Mello, Emori, Christini Takemi, Uehara, Silvia Naomi de Oliveira, Fucuta, Patrícia da Silva, Rocha, Cristina Melo, Feldner, Ana Cristina de Castro Amaral, Silva, Ivonete Sandra de Souza e, Carvalho-Filho, Roberto José, Silva, Antônio Eduardo Benedito, Ferraz, Maria Lucia Gomes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mexico Elsevier 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Coinfection; Dual infection; End-stage renal disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis; Retrospective Studies; Sustained virological response; End-stage renal disease; Dual infection; Sustained virological response
• ISSN: 1665-2681
• DOI: 10.1016/S1665-2681(19)31270-0

AbstractBackground. HBV/HCV coinfection is a common finding among hemodialysis patients. However, there is scarce information concerning the impact of HBV coinfection on the response to treatment of HCV-infected patients on hemodialysis. Aim. We aimed to compare the rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) to treatment with interferon-alfa (IFN) between hemodialysis patients with HBV/HCV coinfection and those with HCV-monoinfection. Material and methods. HCV-infected patients on hemodialysis treated with IFN were included. Patients coinfected by HBV/HCV were compared to HCV-monoinfected patients, regarding clinical and biochemical features and rates of SVR. Results. One hundred and eleven patients were treated. HBV/HCV coinfection was observed in 18/111 patients (16%). Coinfected patients were younger (p = 002), had more time on dialysis (p = 0.05) and showed a tendency to present a higher prevalence of septal fibrosis (p = 0.06). The analysis by intention to treat showed SVR of 56% among coinfected patients and 18% in HCV-monoinfected patients (p = 0.004). Conclusion. In conclusion, end-stage renal disease patients with HBV/HCV coinfection exhibit higher rate of SVR to HCV treatment than HCV-monoinfected patients. It is possible that factors related to the host immune response and viral interaction could explain the better response observed among coinfected patients.