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

In 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 t...

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Main Authors: Raul Carlos Wahle, Renata Mello Perez, Patrícia Fucuta Pereira, Elze Maria Gomes Oliveira, Christini Takemi Emori, Silvia Naomi de Oliveira Uehara, Ivonete Sandra de Souza Silva, Antônio Eduardo Benedito Silva, Maria Lucia Gomes Ferraz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2015-09-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867015000896
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Summary:In 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. Keywords: Coinfection HBV/HCV, Reactivation HBV, Hemodialysis
ISSN:1413-8670