©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Mar 27, 2015; 7(3): 548-558
Published online Mar 27, 2015. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i3.548
Published online Mar 27, 2015. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i3.548
Hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients
Smaragdi Marinaki, John N Boletis, Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Unit, Medical School, University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
Stratigoula Sakellariou, Ioanna K Delladetsima, First Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Delladetsima IK designed research; Marinaki S and Sakellariou S performed research; Boletis JN and Sakellariou S contributed new reagents or analytic tools; Marinaki S analyzed data; Marinaki S and Delladetsima IK wrote the paper.
Conflict-of-interest: None declared.
Correspondence to: Ioanna K Delladetsima, Associate Professor, First Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece. jokadelladetsima@hotmail.com
Telephone: +30-21-7462186 Fax: +30-21-7462157
Received: September 16, 2014
Peer-review started: September 20, 2014
First decision: November 19, 2014
Revised: December 10, 2014
Accepted: December 29, 2014
Article in press: December 29, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2015
Processing time: 196 Days and 18.1 Hours
Peer-review started: September 20, 2014
First decision: November 19, 2014
Revised: December 10, 2014
Accepted: December 29, 2014
Article in press: December 29, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2015
Processing time: 196 Days and 18.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Despite reduction of hepatitis C prevalence, hemodialysis (HD) patients still comprise a high risk group. HD individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have lower aminotransferase and viral levels, milder histological features and a lower frequency of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, liver disease is related to higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in this patient population. According to current recommendations, choice of treatment is interferon or pegylated interferon, whilst low doses of ribavirin also seem to have promising results. Data regarding new protease inhibitors are still lacking.