Long-term Pegylated Interferon-α-2a Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C in an Elderly Renal Transplant Recipient: Case Report and Literature Review

Combination treatment of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin for renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains controversial, as it has been associated with a high risk of rejection, resulting in graft loss and a reduction in patient survival. We present a special case of an elderly RTR who experienced treatment of HCV infection 8 years after renal transplant. There was no rejection episode during or after PEG-IFN treatment. The patient first received a 24-week therapy and a further 60-week course due to relapse. Cessation of both courses corresponded to an achieved end-of-treatment response. However, HCV infection reappeared shortly after cessation of the 60-week treatment period. This case highlights the safety of PEG-IFN therapy for elderly RTR and the potential importance of combination pretreatment for patients undergoing renal transplantation.