Resolution of chronic hepatitis C following parasitosis.
An inefficient cellular immune response likely leads to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Resolution of chronic HCV infection in the absence of treatment is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 39-year old white male with a 17-year history of chronic HCV infection, who eradicated HCV following a serious illness due to co-infection with Babesia (babesiosis), Borriela Borgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Ehrlichia (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis). We hypothesize that the cellular immune response mounted by this patient in response to his infection with all three agents but in particular Babesia was sufficient to eradicate HCV.
Byrnes
Valerie
V
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Chopra
Sanjiv
S
Koziel
Margaret J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000276:immunology; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
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