Remission of severe aplastic anemia associated with hepatitis B virus infection after viral clearance: potential role of lamivudine.
Although viral hepatitis infection is known to be associated with aplastic anemia, a causal link between viral hepatitis and aplastic anemia has not been convincingly demonstrated. A case of hepatitis B-associated severe aplastic anemia is described which only partially responded to conventional immunosuppressive treatment but went into complete clinical remission after clearance of the hepatitis B virus. Disappearance of the hepatitis B virus occurred during lamivudine treatment and coincided with immune activation secondary to discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. This case was somewhat atypical in that a history of acute hepatitis preceding the aplastic anemia was absent. The observation made in this case report supports a cause-effect relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and aplastic anemia.
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ankara Medical School, Turkey.
Hakan
H
Bozkaya
Cihan
C
Yurdaydin
Murat
M
Törüner
Mutlu
M
Arat
A Mithat
AM
Bozdayi
Selim
S
Erekul
Kubilay
K
Cinar
Haluk
H
Koç
Ozden
O
Uzunalimoğlu
D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000209:etiology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019259:Lamivudine