Case: A 34-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C started peritoneal dialysis because of progressive renal disease 2 years after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for aplastic anaemia. The regimen was a single 6-h dwell of 2L glucose dialysate. Considering that her HCV genotype was 2a and that she was a candidate for cadaveric kidney transplant, we decided to treat her with PEG-IFN alpha-2a monotherapy 1 year after the beginning of peritoneal dialysis. We adopted a dose escalation strategy to minimize the total amount of PEG-IFN administration, thereby reducing the risk of adverse effects. Her HCV-RNA disappeared at the 17th week and sustained virus response was achieved thereafter. Only minor side effects were observed including flu-like symptoms and mild anaemia, and residual renal function remained stable during the treatment of 48 weeks (renal Kt/V; from 1.28 to 1.26).

Conclusion: PEG-IFN monotherapy with dose modification may be a safe and effective treatment for HCV infection in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Methods. Patients were identified by computerized discharge diagnosis and chart review of admissions to Saint Louis University hospital from January 1990 through January 2006. Modified Duke Criteria were retrospectively applied to confirm the diagnosis of IE. Survivors and non-survivors were compared to identify clinical correlates of IE mortality.

Results. We identified 59 patients with IE who had received dialysis for a mean duration of 52.9 ± 58.0 months prior to IE diagnosis. Dialysis access comprised 28 (47.5%) catheters, 26 (44.1%) arteriovenous grafts, 3 (5.1%) arteriovenous fistulas and 2 (3.4%) life sites. The causative organisms were MRSA in 15 (25%), MSSA 12 (20%), S. Epidermidis 10 (17%), Enterococci 8 (14%), multi-organism 6 (10%), gram negative 2 (3%) and VRE 1 (2%). Valves involved were mitral valve in 37 (63%), aortic valve in 10 (17%), tricuspid valve in 3 (5%) and multiple valves in 8 (13%) cases. Patient mortality was 28.8% (n = 17) during hospitalization, 37.9% (n = 22) at 30 days and 63.1% (n = 36) at 1 year. In multivariable logistic regression, the adjusted odds ratio of in-hospital mortality was 3.6-fold higher in those with IE and arteriovenous grafts (P = 0.04, 95% CI 1.04–12.27) compared to other forms of dialysis access.

Conclusion. Mortality of IE remains high, despite the availability of potent antibiotics. Patients with arteriovenous grafts who develop IE may face increased risk for in-hospital mortality, perhaps reflecting difficulty eradicating endovascular infection if a graft is involved.