title: The good and evil of flare: flares in hepatitis B virus chronic hepatitis.
abstract: Treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with pegylated interferon achieves HBeAg seroconversion in about 30% of patients and retreatment of nonresponders is followed by a low rate of sustained response. Alanine aminotransferase flares occurring after the introduction of interferon are considered a positive predictor of response. Here we described a young patient with active chronic hepatitis B who underwent four different treatment courses developing lamivudine resistance and showing three elevated flares of different origin and with diverse outcome. We discuss the meaning of each flare and their role in treatment response or virus reactivation.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors: Benedetta
authors: B
authors: Massetto
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Menzaghi
authors: Camilla
authors: C
authors: Giambelli
authors: Spinello
authors: S
authors: Antinori
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Milazzo
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b