Executive summary of the 2018 KDIGO Hepatitis C in CKD Guideline: welcoming advances in evaluation and management

Abstract

Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has adverse liver, kidney, and cardiovascular consequences in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those on dialysis therapy and in those with a kidney transplant. Since the publication of the original Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) HCV Guideline in 2008, major advances in HCV management, particularly with the advent of direct-acting antiviral therapies, have now made the cure of HCV possible in CKD patients. In addition, diagnostic techniques have evolved to enable the noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the Work Group undertook a comprehensive review and update of the KDIGO HCV in CKD Guideline. This Executive Summary highlights key aspects of the guideline recommendations.

Keywords: KDIGO; antivirals; chronic kidney disease; cryoglobulinemia; dialysis; direct-acting antivirals; glomerular diseases; guideline; hemodialysis; hepatitis C virus; infection control; kidney transplantation; liver testing; nosocomial transmission; screening; systematic review.