Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats
05:34

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats

Published on: April 4, 2025

Management of hepatitis C in patients with chronic kidney disease

Mohammad A B Al-Freah1, Zeino Zeino, Michael A Heneghan

  • 1Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom.

Current Gastroenterology Reports
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) affects patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on hemodialysis (HD) or post-transplant. Management of CHC in CKD patients presents unique challenges due to treatment tolerability.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and in renal transplant recipients.
  • HCV infection significantly increases morbidity and mortality in these patient populations and can lead to glomerulopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with CKD.
  • To discuss the diagnostic challenges and methods for CHC in ESRD patients.
  • To outline current management strategies and their limitations for CHC in ESRD, HD, and renal transplant recipients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on CHC in the context of CKD, ESRD, HD, and renal transplantation.
  • Analysis of diagnostic approaches, including antibody testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Evaluation of standard CHC therapies (pegylated interferon and ribavirin) and their tolerability in renal patients.

Main Results:

  • HCV infection is highly prevalent in ESRD patients on HD and renal transplant recipients.
  • Diagnosis of CHC in ESRD is complicated by variable liver enzyme levels, necessitating antibody and PCR confirmation.
  • Standard CHC treatment regimens are often poorly tolerated by patients with ESRD.

Conclusions:

  • CHC poses significant risks for patients with CKD, particularly those on dialysis or post-transplant.
  • Accurate diagnosis of CHC in ESRD requires specific testing beyond liver enzymes.
  • Managing CHC in renal patients necessitates careful consideration of treatment options due to tolerability issues.

More Related Videos

Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform07:13

Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform

Published on: April 12, 2021

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma12:24

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Published on: September 30, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:28

Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires collaborative and comprehensive management. CKD progresses through stages and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) if untreated. Interprofessional collaboration and patient education are crucial, enabling patients to manage their health and improve their quality of life.Diagnostic approach for chronic kidney diseaseThe diagnosis of CKD primarily focuses on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which assesses kidney function by measuring how well...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...
Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management01:18

Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management

Nursing management is essential for preventing complications, maintaining stability, and improving patients' quality of life in chronic kidney disease (CKD). By using a structured approach, nurses help slow CKD progression and support effective patient care​.1. Comprehensive patient assessmentEffective management begins with nurses reviewing the patient’s medical history, and identifying key risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and nephrotoxic drug use. Nurses assess signs of fluid...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations01:24

Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) progressively impairs multiple body systems due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, which disrupt cellular functions across various organs.Neurologic symptomsNeurologic symptoms often arise early in CKD, as uremic toxin buildup drives changes in cognitive and motor functions. Patients frequently experience fatigue, headache, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, seizures. Peripheral neuropathy commonly manifests as burning sensations in the...