Chronic hepatitis C and Crohn's disease: nosocomial infection treatment with PEG-interferon plus ribavirin.
We describe the case of a patient with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease and accidental infection during abdominal surgery by hepatitis C virus (HCV) who received combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha2b (1.5 microg/kg weekly) plus ribavirin (10.6 mg/kg daily) for histologically demonstrated chronic hepatitis C. After 48 weeks treatment, serum transaminase levels were normal and viremia (HCV RNA) was negative (end-of-treatment response); 24 weeks later (follow-up period), a sustained virological response was demonstrated. The tolerance to combination antiviral therapy was good, without intestinal symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease recurrence. We conclude that current antiviral therapies with immunomodulatory effects may be helpful and safe for patients with inflammatory bowel disease infected by hepatitis C virus.
Salcedo-Mora
Xamila
X
Digestive Disease Service, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Diego de León 62, ES-28006 Madrid, Spain.
Maté
José
J
Medina
Jesus
J
Nam Cha
Syong J
SJ
Gisbert
Javier P
JP
Moreno-Otero
Ricardo
R
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003428:Cross Infection; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b