Safety and efficacy of direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C in patients with chronic kidney disease

• Published in: BMC nephrology Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 21
• Main Authors: Iliescu, Elena Laura, Mercan-Stanciu, Adriana, Toma, Letitia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 16.01.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Antiviral agents; Blood levels; Chronic infection; Chronic kidney disease; Development and progression; Diabetes; Direct-acting antiviral therapy; Drug therapy; Enzymes; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Headache; Hemodialysis; Hemoglobin; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; Immunological tolerance; Infections; Kidney diseases; Kidney transplantation; Kidney transplants; Liver; Nausea; Nephrology; Patient outcomes; Patients; Physiological aspects; Population; Population studies; Proteins; Renal function; Ritonavir; Tacrolimus; Transplants & implants; Viral infections; Romania; Chronic kidney disease; Direct-acting antiviral therapy; Hepatitis C virus; Kidney transplantation
• ISSN: 1471-2369; 1471-2369
• DOI: 10.1186/s12882-020-1687-1

This is a real-world evidence study that aims to analyze the efficacy, tolerability and safety profile of paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, in patients with renal impairment. We conducted an observational prospective study, on 232 patients with chronic kidney disease, undergoing treatment with paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, for chronic hepatitis C infection - genotype 1b. Renal and liver function were assessed at the beginning of therapy, monthly during treatment and three months after therapy completion. All patients achieved sustained virologic response. Common side effects were nausea, fatigue and headache. Close monitoring of tacrolimus blood levels and dose reduction was required in kidney transplant recipients. HCV therapy in the setting of renal dysfunction has always been a challenging topic. Direct-acting antivirals have shown promising effects, demonstrating good tolerance and efficacy in patients with HCV infection and renal impairment. Sustained virologic response within our study population was 100%.