Does end-stage kidney failure influence hepatitis C progression in hemodialysis patients?

Abstract

Non-uremic hepatitis C virus infected patients appear to have more active and progressive liver disease than hepatitis C virus infected patients on hemodialysis. Regular follow-up of uremic patients, associated with earlier detection of hepatitis C virus infection, so as suggested uremia-associated impaired immunoreactivity and increased levels of hepatocyte growth factor described recently, might be implicated in a more favorable course of hepatitis C virus infection in uremic patients. In addition, due to the absence of normal liver histology in either group of hepatitis C virus infected patients, we propose liver biopsy to be mandatory in all these patients, provided that no contraindications exist clinically.