title: Sustained virologic response following HCV eradication in two brothers with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia.
abstract: X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) is a humoral immunodeficiency syndrome characterized from childhood by the absence of circulating B lymphocytes, absent or reduced levels of serum immunoglobulin and recurrent bacterial infections. For many affected patients, regular treatment with immunoglobulin is life saving. Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection acquired through contaminated blood products is widely described in this patient cohort. The natural history of HCV infection in patients with XLA tends to follow a more rapid and aggressive course compared to immunocompetent individuals. Furthermore, standard anti-viral therapy appears to be less efficacious in this patient cohort. Here we report the cases of two brothers with XLA who contracted HCV through contaminated blood products. They were treated with a six month course of Interferon alpha-2b and Ribavirin. We report a sustained virologic response five years after completing treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University College Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland. diarmaidhoulihan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Diarmaid D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Houlihan
authors.forename: Eoin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Storan
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004340:Drug Contamination; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035781:Siblings
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin
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