Case report: effect of antileishmanial treatment on hepatitis C viraemia in a visceral leishmaniasis patient with chronic hepatitis C.
We describe a case of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a patient with pre-existing chronic hepatitis C, which caused high hepatitis C virus (HCV) plasma concentration and was followed by a rapidly growing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The high HCV load was drastically and persistently reduced soon after treatment with liposomal amphotericin B suggesting a cause-effect interaction. Some data suggest that liposomal amphotericin B may have an immunomodulatory effect. VL may directly affect the liver function, but HCC has never been reported as a consequence of the disease. This case suggests that VL causes an increase in HCV replication, but, although the growth of the HCC can be defined as exceptional, a relationship with VL is not proven.
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Unit of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Davide F
DF
Precone
Gianfranca
G
Stornaiuolo
Domenico
D
Galante
Anna
A
Amato
Luigi
L
Gradoni
Giovanni B
GB
Gaeta
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008081:Liposomes; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D000666:Amphotericin B