Interferon-alpha facilitates renal transplantation in hemodialysis patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Abstract Interferon-alpha has not been used previously in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. This uncontrolled report evaluates the biochemical and/or histologic profile resulting from the administration of interferon-alpha in seven hemodialysis patients, two with chronic hepatitis B and five with hepatitis C. Biochemical improvement was noted in all these patients. Histologic progression did not occur in the two cases in which such assessment was made, and five of them were subsequently transplanted without recurrence of disease.