title: Acute hepatitis B in a patient with OLT during treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin for hepatitis C recurrence.
abstract: The course and outcome of acute viral hepatitis in liver transplanted patients with hepatitis C recurrence are unknown. Here we describe a patient who presented with acute hepatitis B infection while on treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin for hepatitis C recurrence after liver  transplantation. A nucleoside analogue was added (entecavir) and the patient cleared hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and seroconverted to anti-HBs. In this case, the acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection might have contributed to the clearance of HCV, the concomitant immunosuppression  might have lead to the slow clearance of HBV infection, and the combined antiviral therapy has helped in the resolution of both infections. Hepatitis B vaccination should be recommended in susceptible patients waiting for liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biliotti
authors.forename: Sabu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zacharia
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spaziante
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giusto
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gallinaro
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taliani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015163:Superinfection / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b