Usefulness of combined application of double‐filtration plasmapheresis and twice‐daily injections of interferon‐β in hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection and a high viral load

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among hemodialysis (HD) patients and has been recognized as an important prognostic factor. Therefore, the aggressive antiviral therapy is necessary for HCV infection in HD patients. However, various treatment limitations exist in HD patients such as the inability to use ribavirin. We have previously reported that HCV RNA can be eradicated by administration of interferon (IFN)‐β during HD in patients with HCV infection caused by genotypes known to be sensitive to IFN therapy and low serum HCV RNA levels. In this case report, we tried to clarify the efficacy of combined application of double‐filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and IFN‐β in HD patients with HCV genotype 1b infection and high serum HCV RNA levels. We report two HD patients with HCV genotype 1b infection and high viral loads who were successfully treated by five sessions of DFPP undertaken prior to treatment with IFN‐β (twice‐daily injections for 2 weeks). HCV was eradicated by this combination therapy in both patients. We revealed the efficacy of combined application of DFPP and IFN‐β in HD patients with HCV genotype 1b infection and high serum HCV RNA levels. This combined therapy may be useful for the HD patients who are resistant to conventional IFN monotherapy.