Treatment of a common problem in Hemodialysis patients: Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Abstract

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious public health problem affecting an estimated 2% of the world′s population. The natural history of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients remains incompletely understood and the management is difficult. HCV infection in hemodialysis patients is usually asymptomatic. Given the diminished life expectancy of hemodialysis patients, complications such as decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma may not have time to develop. The frequency of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis ranges from 0% to 28 %. We discuss in this presentation several aspects of HCV infection in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients such as relationship with glomerulopathy, renal allograft outcome, prevalence in hemodialysis patients in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, treatment of HCV in hemo-dialysis patients in the kingdom of Saudia Arabia, and finally our experience at Prince Salman Center for kidney disease (PSCKD) in the management of HCV infected hemodialysis patients.