title: Hepatitis B virus reactivation associated with atorvastatin.
abstract: It is well known that statins may cause elevation of liver enzymes, but the association of statins with hepatitis B reactivation has never been reported before. A case of hepatitis B reactivation induced by atorvastatin is reported herein. Atorvastatin not only caused significant increases in aminotransferases, but also caused ongoing viral replication by evidence of a several-log increase in hepatitis B virus. The reactivation recovered spontaneously by discontinuation of atorvastatin. The evolving concept of a double-edged sword with regard to statins in patients with hepatitis B is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, 168 Canal Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. Electronic address: wuduchu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Du Chu
authors.initials: du C
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: ALT; Atorvastatin; Hepatitis B; Reactivation; Virus load