Treatment of acute hepatitis C virus infection with alpha interferon in patients on hemodialysis.

To evaluate the response to alpha-interferon (INF) in patients who develop acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during hemodialysis, we studied 17 patients who had infection while on dialysis. We administered three million units of alpha interferon subcutaneously to nine adult patients three times per week for 12 weeks; the rest of the patients served as controls. The patients in both groups were followed for 24 months after the diagnosis of seroconversion to anti-HCV antibody. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, anti-HCV antibody levels and HCV- poly chain reaction (HCV-PCR) were performed at regular intervals during the follow-up. Two patients in the treatment group dropped out; one because of colitis and another because of non-compliance. Of the seven patients who completed the course of therapy, all the patients had normal serum ALT levels in 2-8 weeks of therapy, three (42%) patients converted back to anti-HCV antibodies negative and six (86%) had HCV-PCR negative at 12 weeks of therapy (primary virological response) and remained so till the end of follow-up (sustained virological response). The liver biopsy performed in all the responders to therapy at 4-24 months after completion of treatment showed mild hepatitis. In the control group, all the patients continued to have raised serum ALT levels throughout the study; 12% converted anti-HCV antibodies to negative and HCV-PCR (performed on five patients) remained positive during the whole study period. In conclusion our study suggests the efficacy and safety of alpha interferon in the therapy of acute HCV infection in hemodialysis patients.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis complicated with extrarenal abscesses.

We report a 53 years old Saudi man a known diabetic for more than 15 years. He presented with lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. He had symptoms and signs of sepsis. He had pancytopenia, renal failure, and his blood culture grew E.Coli. He remained febrile despite antibiotics administration for one week and developed crepitation over both thighs. Radiologically, plain-x ray, ultrasound and CT scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of air in the left kidney involving the renal parenchyma and the collecting system and extensive gas in subcutaneous tissue of the thighs with abscesses. Repeated surgical drainage of the renal and the extra renal abscesses helped the antibiotic that was continued for several weeks to control the infection. Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare but life threatening condition that can be difficult to treat especially if the gas forming organism extends outside the kidney.

Renal artery stenosis in renal transplantation presentation and management.

A review of the angioplasty records between 1990 and 1995 at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia revealed ten cases of transplant renal artery stenosis (RAS). The diagnosis in these cases was confirmed by renal angiography and all were treated by angioplasty. All study patients presented with uncontrolled hypertension in spite of multiple medications; eight had renal functional impairment and two patients had recurrent unexplained pulmonary edema in addition. Six patients had undergone end-to-end anastomosis, while four had end-to-side anastomosis of the artery during transplantation. Four had cadaveric renal transplants and six had living donor renal transplants. Eight of these patients responded well to angioplasty with marked improvement in their renal function and reduction in the number of anti-hypertensive medications. In one patient, it was not possible to pass the catheter through the stenosis and the patient underwent surgical reconstruction, while in another patient there were multiple stenotic lesions involving the external iliac and the transplant renal arteries suggesting atherosclerotic changes. We conclude that renal artery stenosis should be suspected in patients after renal transplant if they have uncontrolled or worsening hypertension, unexplained renal impairment or presentation with unexplained recurrent pulmonary edema. Renal angiography should be considered as part of the investigation of hypertension in renal transplant patients, and if the RAS is confirmed, angioplasty should be the procedure of choice.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in a Hemodialysis and Kidney Transplant Patient: An Eight Year Follow-up Report.

We report our experience in the management of a hemodialysis (HD) patient who acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection while on dialysis, and subsequently received a kidney transplant. The potential role of alpha-interferon in the management of HCV infection is discussed, as well as the potential for azathioprine to perpetuate HCV induced liver disease following kidney transplantation. The management of this patient summarizes our standard practice for the management of HCV infection during HD and following kidney transplantation.