Curative Therapies for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with Kidney Disease

Abstract

Through the discovery of direct-acting antiviral therapies over the last decade, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been transformed from a highly morbid and potentially fatal chronic viral infection to a curable illness. HCV is common in patients with kidney disease and is a risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease, is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients and leads to worse allograft and patient outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. Clinical trial and real-world data of direct acting antivirals in patients with kidney disease demonstrate extremely high cure rates and favorable adverse event profiles. This review covers the transformative effects of curative HCV therapies on patients with kidney disease including patients with chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, and kidney transplant recipients.