Late hepatitis B virus relapse in patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus after antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon-a2b and ribavirin

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2009;44(12):1487-90. doi: 10.3109/00365520903329585.

Abstract

HBV DNA and HCV RNA viremia levels may fluctuate over time in HBV-HCV-coinfected patients. Long-term follow-up data of more than 6 months after PEG-IFNa + ribavirin treatment of HBV/HCV co-infection are lacking. We here report that HBV may reactivate, even after a period of years, in HBV- and HCV-co-infected patients if HCV is cleared by antiviral therapy. In contrast, a sustained response concerning HCV is durable. We recommend long-term monitoring of HBV/HCV-co-infected patients after IFN a-based therapies.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Comorbidity
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B / complications
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B / genetics
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b