Successful clearance of hepatitis C virus with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in an etanercept-treated patient with psoriatic arthritis, hepatitis B virus coinfection and latent tuberculosis.

摘要

Treatment of viral hepatitis with interferon-based therapies carries the risk of exacerbating underlying autoimmune disorders. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitors are widely used in patients with rheumatic diseases, but anti-TNFalpha treatment may be associated with the reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Current treatment guidelines on rheumatological diseases, chronic HBV or HCV do not address the possibility of the concomitant administration of interferon and TNFalpha inhibitors in patients with both rheumatic disease and viral hepatitis.