Background:
Up to date, there is no consensus on the best combination of direct-acting antiviral to treat hepatitis
C virus in kidney transplant recipients.
Objective:
This study aims to analyze the efficacy of combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir regimen for treatment of
hepatitis C virus infected kidney transplant patients.
Method:
A cross-sectional study conducted in a nephrology clinic and the Nephrology Center in Basrah Teaching Hospital
from June 2015 to June 2018. Ledifos (90 mg Ledipasvir and 400 mg Sofosbuvir fixed-dose) was given as a single daily
dose for all the participants for 12 weeks. Response for therapy was tested by follow up hepatitis C virus load at the end of
12 weeks and 24 weeks. The sustained virological response was defined as negative viral load of hepatitis C virus (aviremia)
at the end of therapy. This study was done according to the Helsinki Congress.
Results:
A total of 60 (16 females) patients with renal transplantation and hepatitis C virus infection were included. Mean
age was 40±6.2 years. A sustained virological response observed in all of the patients who received Ledifos after 12 and 24
weeks of therapy for all genotypes (1a, 1b and 4); p= 0.0001. Genotype 1a was more prevalent among males, 34 (56.6%);
p= 0.0001, and it was the most common genotype tested negative serologically, 11 (18.3%).
Conclusion:
Ledifos therapy is effective and safe option for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in the post–renal
transplant setting.
No evidence of occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in serum of HCV antibody-positive HCV RNA-negative kidney-transplant patients