These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Sustained HCV-RNA response and hepatitis Bs seroconversion after individualized antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin and active vaccination in a hepatitis C virus/hepatitis B virus-coinfected patient. Author: Potthoff A, Deterding K, Trautwein C, Rifai K, Manns MP, Wedemeyer H. Journal: Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol; 2007 Oct; 19(10):906-9. PubMed ID: 17873617. Abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is frequently associated with progressive liver disease. Treatment options are limited and no data on the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy are available. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B and C who was scheduled for a 48 weeks course of PEG-IFNalpha-2b plus ribavirin therapy. She had HCV genotype 2 infection and was negative for HBV-DNA and HBe antigen before treatment. Although the HCV-RNA response was rapid until week 12, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels showed a more linear decline. At week 48, HBsAg was still positive, however, with very low levels of only 0.06 IU/ml. Treatment was therefore continued for another 4 weeks combined with active HBV immunization until HBs seroconversion occurred. Forty-three weeks after treatment, the patient showed a robust HBs seroconversion (anti-HBs of 260 IU/ml) and a sustained HCV-RNA response. This case highlights that combination therapy of PEG-IFNalpha-2b with ribavirin of HBV/HCV-coinfected individuals cannot only induce a sustained HCV-RNA response but also HBsAg seroconversion in single patients. Monitoring of HBsAg levels can be useful in individualizing optimal treatment duration in HBV-infected patients.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]