Renal and Hepatic Outcome in Patients Treated with Interferon Alpha following Renal Transplant for Hcv Infection

FIGURE 10-47 Renal and hepatic outcome in patients treated with interferon alpha post-renal transplant for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Interferon treatment results in a high rate of transplant acute renal failure or rejection. Transplant biopsies in those with acute renal failure show severe diffuse edema. Acute renal failure is not very responsive to steroids. Virologic clearing is rare, as HCV-RNA is detectable, on average, 1 month after discontinuing interferon if the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) became negative during treatment. ALT— alanine aminotransferase; SC—subcutaneously; TIW—three times a week. (Data from Thervet and coworkers [21], Magnone and coworkers [22], Rostaing and coworkers [23,24], and Yasumura and coworkers [25].) RENAL AND HEPATIC OUTCOME IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH INTERFERON ALPHA FOLLOWING RENAL TRANSPLANT FOR HCV INFECTION