Successful treatment with lamivudine for reactivated hepatitis B infection following chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in subjects receiving cytotoxic treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is well documented. This report describes the case of a 69-year-old male chronic HBV carrier who developed severe flare-up of hepatitis B following chemotherapy for large B-cell NHL. Prior to chemotherapy, the patient had normal liver function tests and was negative for HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. HBV reactivation consisted of a rise in hepatic transaminases (peak alanine aminotransferase=1178 IU/ml), hyperbilirubinemia (7.1 mg/dl), and high levels of serum HBV DNA (63.6 x 10(6) copies/ml). A liver biopsy revealed highly active hepatitis and confluent necroses. Lamivudine treatment (100 mg daily) resulted in rapid loss of hepatitis B virus DNA, resolution of hepatitis, and clinical recovery. The patient is still in remission for NHL. Lamivudine is effective in the control of HBV reactivation following chemotherapy.
Stroffolini
T
T
Department of Hepatology, S. Giacomo Hospital, Via Canova, 29, 00186 Rome, Italy.
Andriani
A
A
Bibas
M
M
Barlattani
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine