Pegylated interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients in Croatia.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a frequent complication among long-term dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of pegylated interferon-α(2a) (PEG-IFN-α(2a)) treatment in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 16 HCV-RNA-positive hemodialysis patients.

[Rhabdomyolysis as a side effect of simvastatin treatment].

Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis are rare adverse effects of treatment with hydroxymethylglutaryl-coA reductase inhibitors. The risk of adverse effects is increased with the concomitant use of statin and specific drugs that can induce myopathy, in patients with liver and renal function impairment, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. The clinical picture of rhabdymyolysis with acute renal failure caused by the use of simvastatin in a 54-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus and hypertension is described.