Hepatitis B virus reactivation after treatment for hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients with HBV/HCV coinfection

ABSTRACTIn coinfected HBV/HCV patients, HBV replication is usually suppressed by HCV over the time. No study to date has evaluated the HBV viremia in long-term follow-up after HCV treatment in hemodialysis patients with HBV/HCV coinfection. This study aimed to assess the evolution of HBV viremia after HCV treatment in this special population. Ten hemodialysis patients with HBV/HCV coinfection with dominant HCV infection (HBV lower than 2000 IU/mL) and significant fibrosis were treated with interferon-alpha 3 MU 3×/week for 12 months and could be followed for at least 36 months after HCV treatment. Six cases of HBV reactivation (60%) during follow-up were observed and 5/6 had been successfully treated for HCV. Patients with HBV reactivation received anti-HBV therapy. Our preliminary findings indicate that treatment of hepatitis C in HBV/HCV coinfected hemodialysis patients may favor HBV reactivation. Thus, continued monitoring of HBV viremia must be recommended and prompt anti-HBV therapy should be implemented.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Wahle,Raul Carlos, Perez,Renata Mello, Pereira,Patrícia Fucuta, Oliveira,Elze Maria Gomes, Emori,Christini Takemi, Uehara,Silvia Naomi de Oliveira, Silva,Ivonete Sandra de Souza, Silva,Antônio Eduardo Benedito, Ferraz,Maria Lucia Gomes
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 2015
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702015000500533
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!