Remission of severe aplastic anemia associated with hepatitis B virus infection after viral clearance potential role of lamivudine

Although viral hepatitis infection is known to be associated with aplastic anemia, a causal link between viral hepatitis and aplastic anemia has not been convincingly demonstrated. A case of hepatitis B-associated severe aplastic anemia is described which only partially responded to conventional imm...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Digestive diseases and sciences 2002-08, Vol.47 (8), p.1782-1785
Main Authors: BOZKAYA, Hakan, YURDAYDIN, Cihan, TÖRÜNER, Murat, ARAT, Mutlu, BOZDAYI, A. Mithat, EREKUL, Selim, CINAR, Kubilay, KOC, Haluk, UZUNALIMOGLU, Özden
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anemia, Aplastic - etiology
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Hematology
Hepatitis B - complications
Hepatitis B - drug therapy
Hepatitis B - virology
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Lamivudine - therapeutic use
Male
Medical sciences
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Remission, Spontaneous
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Although viral hepatitis infection is known to be associated with aplastic anemia, a causal link between viral hepatitis and aplastic anemia has not been convincingly demonstrated. A case of hepatitis B-associated severe aplastic anemia is described which only partially responded to conventional immunosuppressive treatment but went into complete clinical remission after clearance of the hepatitis B virus. Disappearance of the hepatitis B virus occurred during lamivudine treatment and coincided with immune activation secondary to discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. This case was somewhat atypical in that a history of acute hepatitis preceding the aplastic anemia was absent. The observation made in this case report supports a cause-effect relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and aplastic anemia.
ISSN:0163-2116
1573-2568
DOI:10.1023/A:1016444611997