title: Aminotransferase elevation in HIV/hepatitis B virus co-infected patients treated with two active hepatitis B virus drugs.
abstract: Discerning drug hepatotoxicity from viral hepatitis flares remains an ongoing problem unique to patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B (HBV). We present three such coinfected patients who have been on two anti-HBV agents, lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate simultaneously, as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). All three developed significant aminotransferase elevations 6-12 weeks after initiation of HAART despite being on two active HBV drugs. Two of the three patients were initially thought to have drug-related hepatotoxicity from HIV medications. It seems more likely that all three patients demonstrated hepatitis B reactivation of differing severity as the result of varying degrees of immune recovery. Distinguishing clearly between drug-related hepatotoxicity and hepatitis reactivation may be difficult but is important as their clinical management differs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9113, USA. mamta.jain@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Mamta K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Nimisha K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hester
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019259:Lamivudine; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000637:Transaminases; D000225:Adenine