The efficacy of the direct-acting antiviral combination in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus Genotype 1 infection

Background Interferon and ribavirin treatments previously used in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection cannot be used effectively in hemodialysis patients due to dose adjustment and drug-related side effects. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapies have been reported to be effective in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of DAAs in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. Material and Methods Twenty hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C followed in the gastroenterology outpatient clinic between 2016 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Results Twelve of the 20 patients were male, and eight were female. The mean age of the patients was 50.7±8.6 years. Six patients had no treatment experience. Fourteen patients had been previously treated with interferon and/or ribavirin but did not achieve sustained virological response (SVR). Genotype 1b was detected in 14 patients, genotype 1a in 4 patients, and genotype 1 in 2 patients. Patients were treated with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (OBV/PTV/r) and dasabuvir (DSV) or ribavirin (RBV) for 12 or 24 weeks. Two patients were cirrhotic and had a Child-Pugh score of A. Treatment was discontinued in 2 patients due to thrombus formation in the arteriovenous fistula in the first month of DAAs treatment. SVR12 was evaluated in 14 of 18 patients and found to be 100%. One of the ten patients accepted as SVR24 had a relapse. This rate of SVR24 was similar to that in the general population. Conclusions Our results supported that the OBV/PTV/r and DSV or RBV regimen was a safe and effective therapy for hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1.