Sustained response with negative serum HCV-mRNA and disappearance of antibodies after interferon-alpha therapy in a kidney transplant recipient with chronic active viral hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: The use of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to treat viral hepatitis C (HCV) occurring in kidney transplant recipients is controversial. This study reports an HCV patient successfully treated with IFN-alpha therapy achieving sustained response, negative serum HCV-mRNA and the disappearance of HCV antibodies, without impairment of renal function. METHOD: A young kidney transplant recipient developed a proven HCV infection 70 months post-transplantation. The patient received IFN-alpha therapy, and for a 32-month follow-up period was evaluated clinically, serologically and virologically. RESULTS: IFN-alpha therapy resulted in normal transaminase activities within 2 months. Serum HCV-mRNA was negative after 4 weeks of treatment and is still negative. Ten months after IFN-alpha therapy withdrawal, the enzyme immunoassay revealed that HCV antibodies (HCVAb) were absent in the serum. IFN-alpha therapy was safe, well tolerated and renal function was not impaired