End-stage Renal Disease
}HCV infects 10–20% of all end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients
} ESRD patients have impaired drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and clearance leading to
•increase in adverse events
•high discontinuation rates (up to 50%)
}RBV contraindicated
}Can PEGASYS® (40KD) be used to improve the risk: benefit ratio in these patients?
Slide 14. End-stage Renal Disease
HCV infects 10–20% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing haemodialysis.
The patients often have impaired adsorption, distribution, metabolism and clearance which can lead to an increase in adverse events and high discontinuation rates. Ribavirin (RBV) is contraindicated in these patients.
Improved benefit for ESRD patients may be offered by newer therapies such as PEGASYS® (40KD), that have similar efficacy to conventional IFN/RBV therapy, but without the side effects associated with use of RBV.