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Chronic Hepatitis CPhase 4NCT00491179

Retreatment of Dialysis Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C With Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Plus Low Dose Ribavirin

A Phase 4 study testing Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in people with Chronic Hepatitis C and Hemodialysis, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in dialysis patients. Interferon (IFN)-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C has been the mainstay therapy in immunocompetent patients. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Chronic Hepatitis C, Hemodialysis
What is being tested?
Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
35 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
Jun 2006to Jul 2008
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Non-responders or relapsers of dialysis patients to conventional interferon or pegylated interferon monotherapy
  • Age 18~65 years old
  • Creatinine clearance (Ccr) < 10 ml/min/1.73 m2
  • Anti-HCV (Abbott HCV EIA 2.0, Abbott Diagnostic, Chicago, IL) positive > 6 months
  • Detectable serum quantitative HCV-RNA (Cobas Taqman HCV Monitor v2.0, Roche Diagnostics) with dynamic range 25- 391000000 IU/ml

Who cannot join

  • Severe anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/dL) or hemoglobinopathy
  • Neutropenia (neutrophil count, <1,500/mm3)
  • Thrombocytopenia (platelet <90,000/ mm3)
  • Co-infection with HBV or HIV
  • Chronic alcohol abuse (daily consumption > 20 g/day)
  • Autoimmune liver disease
Show all 13Show fewer
  • Decompensated liver disease (Child classification B or C)
  • Neoplastic disease
  • An organ transplant
  • Immunosuppressive therapy
  • Poorly controlled autoimmune diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiac diseases, psychiatric diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes mellitus
  • Evidence of drug abuse
  • Unwilling to have contraception

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Taiwan1 site
  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Taipei, 100

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Official title: Retreatment of Dialysis Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C With Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Plus Low Dose Ribavirin Who Fail Interferon Alfa or Pegylated Interferon Alfa Monotherapy - a Pilot Study

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in dialysis patients. Interferon (IFN)-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C has been the mainstay therapy in immunocompetent patients. Two meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy and safety of conventional IFN alfa monotherapy showed that the sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were 37% and 33%, respectively; and the corresponding dropout rates were 17% and 29.6%, respectively. The efficacy and safety of pegylated IFN alfa-2a and 2b in treating dialysis patients showed conflicting results, with a more favorable outcome of patients treated with pegylated IFN alfa-2a (135-180 μg/week: SVR 33-75%, well tolerated) than those treated with pegylated IFN alfa-2b (0.5-1.0 μg/week: SVR 12.5%, poorly tolerated), Currently, IFN-based therapy to treatment HCV infection should be initiated in dialysis stages, because the use of IFN in RT patients harbors high risks of acute graft rejection,and have low response rates under the concomitant use of immunosuppressive agents.

Ribavirin, which has been used in combination with IFN to treat chronic hepatitis C in the general patients and achieve a higher SVR rate than IFN monotherapy, is considered contraindicated in dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C due to the risk of severe hemolytic anemia. However, some pilot studies evaluating combined conventional IFN alfa plus low dose ribavirin (170-300 mg/day) showed SVR rates of 17%-66% after 24-48 weeks of treatment.In addition, a recent study including 6 patients with combination of pegylated IFN alfa plus low dose ribavirin also showed a SVR rate of 50%.

Although dialysis patients have a higher SVR rate to conventional IFN or pegylated IFN monotherapy than patients with normal renal function for HCV therapy. More than half of these patients are relapsers or non-responders to IFN monotherapy. Retreatment of HCV-patients with normal renal function by combined pegylated IFN alfa plus ribavirin who fail to response to IFN monotherapy has achieved a SVR rate of 28%. Based on the long-term favorable outcome in dialysis patients who eradicate HCV, the aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retreatment by pegylated IFN alfa-2a plus low dose ribavirin in dialysis patients who fail to achieve HCV eradication by conventional or pegylated IFN alfa.

Read the detailed description

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in dialysis patients, with the reported prevalence varying from 3% to 80% worldwide.(1-3) Although these patients usually have mild symptoms and moderate elevation of alanine transaminase levels, recent international collaborative survey and prospective studies found that anti-HCV seropositivity and positive HCV RNA were risk factors for mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).(4-7) Furthermore, progressive hepatic fibrosis, poor patient and graft survival were observer in dialysis patients with HCV infection who undergo renal transplantation (RT), suggesting immunosuppression following RT may worsen the course of hepatic fibrosis and renal graft function.(8-13) These lines of evidence indicate that HCV infection in the dialysis population is an important issue to be tackled.

Interferon (IFN)-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C has been the mainstay therapy in immunocompetent patients. In dialysis patients, treatment with conventional or pegylated interferon has also received much attention recently. Two meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy and safety of conventional IFN alfa monotherapy showed that the sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were 37% and 33%, respectively; and the corresponding dropout rates were 17% and 29.6%, respectively.(14,15) The efficacy and safety of pegylated IFN alfa-2a and 2b in treating dialysis patients showed conflicting results, with a more favorable outcome of patients treated with pegylated IFN alfa-2a (135-180 μg/week: SVR 33-75%, well tolerated) than those treated with pegylated IFN alfa-2b (0.5-1.0 μg/week: SVR 12.5%, poorly tolerated),(16-21) which may result from different pharmacokinetic profiles between these two pegylated IFNs. Currently, IFN-based therapy to treatment HCV infection should be initiated in dialysis stages, because the use of IFN in RT patients harbors high risks of acute graft rejection,(22,23) and have low response rates under the concomitant use of immunosuppressive agents.(24,25) Ribavirin, which has been used in combination with IFN to treat chronic hepatitis C in the general patients and achieve a higher SVR rate than IFN monotherapy, is considered contraindicated in dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C due to the risk of severe hemolytic anemia. However, some pilot studies evaluating combined conventional IFN alfa plus low dose ribavirin (170-300 mg/day) showed SVR rates of 17%-66% after 24-48 weeks of treatment.(26-28) In addition, a recent study including 6 patients with combination of pegylated IFN alfa plus low dose ribavirin also showed a SVR rate of 50%.(29) Although dialysis patients have a higher SVR rate to conventional IFN or pegylated IFN monotherapy than patients with normal renal function for HCV therapy. More than half of these patients are relapsers or non-responders to IFN monotherapy. Retreatment of HCV-patients with normal renal function by combined pegylated IFN alfa plus ribavirin who fail to response to IFN monotherapy has achieved a SVR rate of 28%.(30) Based on the long-term favorable outcome in dialysis patients who eradicate HCV, the aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retreatment by pegylated IFN alfa-2a plus low dose ribavirin in dialysis patients who fail to achieve HCV eradication by conventional or pegylated IFN alfa.

Being tested
Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin
Keywords
Chronic hepatitis C, hemodialysis, interferon, ribavirin
Medical subject headings
Hepatitis C, Chronic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirinDrug

    Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 135 ug/week plus ribavirin (Copegus, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 200 mg/day for 48 weeks

  • Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirinDrug

    Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 135 ug/week plus ribavirin (Copegus, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 200 mg/day for 24 weeks

Study groups in NCT00491179
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pegylated IFN + RBV for HCV genotype 1ExperimentalPegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 135 ug/week plus ribavirin (Copegus, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 200 mg/day for 48 weeks for HCV genotype 1
Receives: Drug: Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin
Pegylated IFN + RBV for HCV genotype 2ExperimentalPegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 135 ug/week plus ribavirin (Copegus, F. Hoffman-LaRoche) 200 mg/day for 24 weeks for HCV genotype 2
Receives: Drug: Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. 1.Number of Participants With Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) 2.Number of Participants Who Droppoed Out of the Study Prematurely Due to Adverse Events (AEs)

    1. Number of participants with sustained virologic response (SVR): number of patients with undetectable HCV RNA 6 months off therapy by real-time PCR test (Cobas TaqMan HCV Test v2.0, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, limit of detection < 25 IU/mL)
    2. Number of participants who droppoed out of the study prematurely due to adverse events (AEs): number of patients who prematurely withdrew from the study due to any adverse events

    Measured: 1.5 year

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Number of Participants With Histologic Response(HR)

    Number of participants with histologic response (HR): number of patients who had improvement of as least 2 scores at the end of follow-up liver biopsy compared to baseline liver biopsy by Ishak scoring system (the sum of Ishak necroinflammation score (0-18) and Ishak fibrosis score (0-6); the higher the total scores, the severer the histologic changes)

    Measured: 1.5 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Jun 2007 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2006
  3. Primary completionJun 2008
  4. Study completionJul 2008

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
35 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00491179
Sponsor's protocol ID
200703032M
Status last verified
Oct 2009
First submitted
23 Jun 2007
Last updated
13 Nov 2009
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Fabrizi F, Poordad FF, Martin P. Hepatitis C infection and the patient with end-stage renal disease. Hepatology. 2002 Jul;36(1):3-10. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2002.34613.

    PubMed 12085342
  • Kao JH, Huang CH, Chen W, Tsai TJ, Lee SH, Hung KY, Chen DS. GB virus C infection in hemodialysis patients: molecular evidence for nosocomial transmission. J Infect Dis. 1999 Jul;180(1):191-4. doi: 10.1086/314850.

    PubMed 10353878
  • Hou CH, Chen WY, Kao JH, Chen DS, Yang Y, Chen JJ, Lee SH, Wu DJ, Yang SC. Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients. J Med Virol. 1995 Apr;45(4):381-5. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890450405.

    PubMed 7545208
  • Maisonneuve P, Agodoa L, Gellert R, Stewart JH, Buccianti G, Lowenfels AB, Wolfe RA, Jones E, Disney AP, Briggs D, McCredie M, Boyle P. Cancer in patients on dialysis for end-stage renal disease: an international collaborative study. Lancet. 1999 Jul 10;354(9173):93-9. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)06154-1.

    PubMed 10408483
  • Nakayama E, Akiba T, Marumo F, Sato C. Prognosis of anti-hepatitis C virus antibody-positive patients on regular hemodialysis therapy. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2000 Oct;11(10):1896-1902. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V11101896.

    PubMed 11004221
  • Stehman-Breen CO, Emerson S, Gretch D, Johnson RJ. Risk of death among chronic dialysis patients infected with hepatitis C virus. Am J Kidney Dis. 1998 Oct;32(4):629-34. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(98)70027-7.

    PubMed 9774125
  • Pereira BJ, Natov SN, Bouthot BA, Murthy BV, Ruthazer R, Schmid CH, Levey AS. Effects of hepatitis C infection and renal transplantation on survival in end-stage renal disease. The New England Organ Bank Hepatitis C Study Group. Kidney Int. 1998 May;53(5):1374-81. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00883.x.

    PubMed 9573555
  • Mathurin P, Mouquet C, Poynard T, Sylla C, Benalia H, Fretz C, Thibault V, Cadranel JF, Bernard B, Opolon P, Coriat P, Bitker MO. Impact of hepatitis B and C virus on kidney transplantation outcome. Hepatology. 1999 Jan;29(1):257-63. doi: 10.1002/hep.510290123.

    PubMed 9862875
  • Hanafusa T, Ichikawa Y, Kishikawa H, Kyo M, Fukunishi T, Kokado Y, Okuyama A, Shinji Y, Nagano S. Retrospective study on the impact of hepatitis C virus infection on kidney transplant patients over 20 years. Transplantation. 1998 Aug 27;66(4):471-6. doi: 10.1097/00007890-199808270-00010.

    PubMed 9734490
  • Legendre C, Garrigue V, Le Bihan C, Mamzer-Bruneel MF, Chaix ML, Landais P, Kreis H, Pol S. Harmful long-term impact of hepatitis C virus infection in kidney transplant recipients. Transplantation. 1998 Mar 15;65(5):667-70. doi: 10.1097/00007890-199803150-00011.

    PubMed 9521201
  • Izopet J, Rostaing L, Sandres K, Cisterne JM, Pasquier C, Rumeau JL, Duffaut M, Durand D, Puel J. Longitudinal analysis of hepatitis C virus replication and liver fibrosis progression in renal transplant recipients. J Infect Dis. 2000 Mar;181(3):852-8. doi: 10.1086/315355.

    PubMed 10720504
  • Zylberberg H, Nalpas B, Carnot F, Skhiri H, Fontaine H, Legendre C, Kreis H, Brechot C, Pol S. Severe evolution of chronic hepatitis C in renal transplantation: a case control study. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002 Jan;17(1):129-33. doi: 10.1093/ndt/17.1.129.

    PubMed 11773476
  • Fabrizi F, Dulai G, Dixit V, Bunnapradist S, Martin P. Meta-analysis: interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in dialysis patients. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Dec;18(11-12):1071-81. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01780.x.

    PubMed 14653826
  • Russo MW, Goldsweig CD, Jacobson IM, Brown RS Jr. Interferon monotherapy for dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C: an analysis of the literature on efficacy and safety. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Jul;98(7):1610-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07526.x.

    PubMed 12873587
  • Kokoglu OF, Ucmak H, Hosoglu S, Cetinkaya A, Kantarceken B, Buyukbese MA, Isik IO. Efficacy and tolerability of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Mar;21(3):575-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04008.x.

    PubMed 16638102

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in people with Chronic Hepatitis C and Hemodialysis, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Nov 2009. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Nov 2009). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

1.Number of Participants With Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) 2.Number of Participants Who Droppoed Out of the Study Prematurely Due to Adverse Events (AEs) (time frame: 1.5 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00491179, which also lists 29 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Nov 2009.

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