Skip to main content
Log in

Recurrent fulminant hepatic failure in an HB carrier after intensive chemotherapy

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A 56-year-old female HB carrier developed fulminant hepatic failure with propagation of precore mutant hepatitis B virus following two sessions of intensive chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was treated with interferon and cyclosporin A for the suppression of viral replication and enhanced host immune responses. She recovered from liver failure with histological evidence of marked regenerative activity.

She again developed fulminant hepatic failure with reactivation of the hepatitis B virus following repeated chemotherapy for recurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

This case report supports the view that both enhanced viral replication and host immune responses contribute to the development of fulminant hepatitis in HB carriers. Treatment suppressing both mechanisms may be effective in this type of fulminant hepatitis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bird GLA, Smith H, Portmann B, Alexander GJM, Williams R: Acute liver decompensation on withdrawal of cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy in hepatitis B carriers. Q J Med 270:895–902, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  2. Flowers MA, Heathcote J, Wanless IR, Sherman M, Reynolds WJ, Cameron RG, Levy GA, Inman RD: Fulminant hepatitis as a consequence of reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection after discontinuation of low-dose methotrexate therapy. Ann Intern Med 112:381–382, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lok ASF, Liang RHS, Chiu EKW, Wong K-L, Chan T-K, Todd D: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication in patients receiving cytotoxic therapy. Gastroenterology 100:182–188, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yoshiba M, Sekiyama K, Sugata F, Okamoto H, Yamamoto K, Yotsumoto S: Reactivation of precore mutant hepatitis B virus leading to fulminant hepatic failure following cytotoxic treatment in e antigen negative HB carriers. Dig Dis Sci 37:1253–1259, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  5. Okamoto H, Yotsumoto S, Akahane Y, Yamanaka T, Miyazaki Y, Sugai Y, Tsuda F, Tanaka T, Miyasaka Y, Mayumi M: Hepatitis B viruses with precore region defects prevail in persistently infected hosts along with seroconversion to the antibody against e antigen. J Virol 64:1298–1331, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  6. Okamoto H, Okada S, Sugiyama Y, Tanaka T, Sugai Y, Akahane Y, Machida A, Mishiro S, Yoshizawa Y, Mayumi M: Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA by a two-stage chain reaction with two pairs of primers deduced from the 5′-noncoding region. Jpn J Exp Med 60:251–252, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yoshiba M, Sekiyama K, Iwamura Y, Sugata F: Development of a reliable artificial liver support-plasma exchange in combination with hemodiafiltration using “high performance membranes.” Dig Dis Sci 38:469–476, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dudley FJ, Fox RA, Sherlock S: Cellular immunity and hepatitis-associated, Australia antigen liver disease. Lancet 1:1723–1726, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  9. Brechot C, Bernuau J, Thiers V, Dubois F, Goudeau A, Rueff B, Tiollais P, Benhamou J-P: Multiplication of hepatitis B virus in fulminant hepatitis B. Br Med J 288:270–271, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cock KM, Govndarajan S, Valinluck B, Redeker AG: Hepatitis B virus DNA in fulminant hepatitis B. Ann Intern Med 105:546–547, 1986

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Makoto, Y., Sekiyama, K., Iwabuchi, S. et al. Recurrent fulminant hepatic failure in an HB carrier after intensive chemotherapy. Digest Dis Sci 38, 1751–1755 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303187

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303187

Key Words

Navigation