Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40 kD) and ribavirin in haemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with liver dysfunction and hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with normal kidney function, treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) frequently leads to eradication of HCV. Treatment in dialysis patients has long been controversial and until recently, the use of RBV was considered to be contra-indicated.