DAAs Safe for Hepatitis C-Infected Renal Transplant Recipients

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are safe and effective for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have received a renal transplant, according to a recent study.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from 6 studies including a total of 360 patients with HCV who received a renal transplant. The efficacy and safety of DAA was assessed and the quality of the studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute scale.
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Within 12 weeks, 236 patients (98.3%) achieved sustained virological response, and HCV infection was cleared in 239 patients after 24 weeks of treatment.

The most common adverse events, reported by 39.3% of patients, were general symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and headache. Severe adverse events included anemia (1.1%), portal vein thrombosis (n=0.6%), and streptococcus bacteraemia and pneumonia (1.1%).

“Our findings suggest that DAAs are highly efficacious and safe for treating HCV-infected [renal transplant recipients] and without significant [adverse events],” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Keliang C, Pei L, Song R, et al. Direct-acting antiviral agent efficacy and safety in renal transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A PRISMA-compliant study [published online July 1, 2017]. Medicine. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007568.