Treatment of hepatitis C in renal failure

Hepatitis C is a common infection, seen frequently in patients on renal replacement therapy and is responsible for an adverse outcome in patients on dialysis as well as potential renal transplant (RT) recipients. HCV infection is the fourth leading cause of post-transplantation death, and leading cause of post-transplantation liver dysfunction. HCV infection is both a cause as well as a complication in patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, prompt recognition and appropriate timely treatment is essential to salvage these patients. Lack of safe and effective drugs to treat HCV infection in CKD patients is a major concern. The presently available drugs, interferon and ribavirin, have altered pharmacokinetics in patients with renal failure; therefore, these have potential adverse effect on graft function and survival. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluation; discusses the available therapeutic options and their limitations.