title: Regression of esophageal varices and splenomegaly in two patients with hepatitis-C-related liver cirrhosis after interferon and ribavirin combination therapy.
abstract: Some recent studies have found regression of liver cirrhosis after antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis, but there have been no reports of complete regression of esophageal varices after interferon/peg-interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. We describe two cases of complete regression of esophageal varices and splenomegaly after interferon-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Esophageal varices and splenomegaly regressed after 3 and 8 years of sustained virologic responses in cases 1 and 2, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that complications of liver cirrhosis, such as esophageal varices and splenomegaly, can regress after antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Soon Jae
authors: SJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Yoo-Kyung
authors: YK
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Soo-Young
authors: SY
authors: Na
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Eun Kwang
authors: EK
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Sun Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Boo
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Seung Uk
authors: SU
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Hyung Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Song
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Heung Up
authors: HU
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Bong Soo
authors: BS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors: Byung-Cheol
authors: BC
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Esophageal varices; Hepatitis C, Liver cirrhosis; Interferon; Regression; Ribavirin; Splenomegaly