title: Late hepatitis B virus relapse in patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus after antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon-a2b and ribavirin.
abstract: HBV DNA and HCV RNA viremia levels may fluctuate over time in HBV-HCV-coinfected patients. Long-term follow-up data of more than 6 months after PEG-IFNa + ribavirin treatment of HBV/HCV co-infection are lacking. We here report that HBV may reactivate, even after a period of years, in HBV- and HCV-co-infected patients if HCV is cleared by antiviral therapy. In contrast, a sustained response concerning HCV is durable. We recommend long-term monitoring of HBV/HCV-co-infected patients after IFN a-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potthoff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b