title: Recurrence of HCV infection in a sustained responder after chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: successful retreatment.
abstract: It is known that sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with sustained elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and that late relapse after SVR in HCV patients is doubtful. A 47-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3, achieved SVR after combination treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirine for 6 months. Sixteen months later non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was diagnosed. After successful completion of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he presented with HCV infection recurrence of the same genotype. Retreatment with the same schedule resulted in normalization of aminotransferases and disappearance of HCVRNA from the serum. This case suggests that recurrence of HCV infection in a sustained responder may be probable after immunosuppressive therapy. Prevention is currently impossible but retreatment may be successful.
authors.affiliation: University of Patras Medical School, Parodos Kimothois 6, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece. kxthomo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomopoulos
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Giannakoulas
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tsamandas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fragopanagou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pallasopoulou
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Lampropoulou-Karatza
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a