Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0653-2 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Add-on neurological benefits of antiviral therapy in HCV patients with Chronic Kidney 
Disease —A Nationwide Cohort Study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 17 Apr 2017 
 
Reviewer:  Goki  Suda  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
BMGE -D-17-00129  
 
This is a manuscript entitled "Add -on neurological benefits of  antiviral therapy in HCV patients 
with Chronic Kidney Disease —A Nationwide Cohort Study"" by Ming -Shyan Lin, et al.  
 
In this study, the authors conducted population -based cohort study used the NHIRD data source 
and compared the all -cause mortality, AMI,  IS, hemorrhagic stroke, and new -onset dialysis 
between HCV infected patients with CKD who treated with IFN -based therapy and non -treated 
(control)  
 
There were several limitations, including lack of treatment outcome, serum creatinine, however 
this large n umber cohort study regarding how IFN -based therapy affect HCV infected patients 
with CKD on prognosis, AMI, IS, new -onset HD etc. is potentially interesting. This reviewer 
concerned below.  
 
1. Please show  contraindication of ribavirin according to renal f unction in Taiwan, because 
in some country, ribavirin could not be administrated to patients with severe renal function.  
 
If thus, untreated group might have more patients with severe renal function, because patients 
with severe could not be administrated w ith peg -IFN/RBV.  
 
2. Please show the distribution of HCV genotype in Taiwan.  
 
3. In genotype 1 HCV infected patients, is it adequate that the definition of  16 weeks 
treatment duration as completely treated,  please discuss it.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the nec essary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess  any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any  stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests' below  
 
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