Pegylated Interferon Treatment of a Patient Coinfected with Hepatitis B and C

Because the two viruses have overlapping transmission routes, some individuals are coinfected with both hepatitis B and C. Pegylated interferon is an approved therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), but there is little data on its use in patients infected with both viruses.

In a case report published in the September 2006 European Journal of Gastroenterolpgy & Hepatology, French researchers described the successful treatment of a HBV/HCV coinfected patient.

The patient was a 32-year-old man, of Kampuchean (Cambodian) origin, with genotype 1 HCV and with chronic hepatitis B documented by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg).

Results

On therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b (Peg-Intron) plus ribavirin, the patient's HCV RNA became undetectable at Week 17.

At the end of 48 weeks of treatment, his HCV viral load remained undetectable.

At that point, the patient's HBV DNA level was reduced, but he remained HBeAg positive.

12 weeks after the end of treatment, he experienced HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion.

2 years after the end of treatment, the man's HCV RNA and HBV DNA were both undetectable, and his HBeAg negative status was maintained.

Conclusion

The authors concluded that the combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin "may induce suppression of both viral infections" in HBV/HCV coinfected patients.

Reference
P E Rautou, T Asselah, D Saadoun, and others. Hepatitis C virus eradication followed by HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion after pegylated interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin treatment in a patient with hepatitis B and C coinfection. European Journal of Gastroenterolpgy & Hepatology 18(9): 1019-1022. September 2006.