Research Article

Immune suppression leading to hepatitis C virus re-emergence after sustained virological response

  1. Amy Lin1,
  2. Anupama Thadareddy1,
  3. Michael J. Goldstein2,
  4. Gerond Lake-Bakaar1,†,*

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2008

DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21257

Issue

Journal of Medical Virology

Journal of Medical Virology

Volume 80, Issue 10, pages 1720–1722, October 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lin, A., Thadareddy, A., Goldstein, M. J. and Lake-Bakaar, G. (2008), Immune suppression leading to hepatitis C virus re-emergence after sustained virological response. J. Med. Virol., 80: 1720–1722. doi: 10.1002/jmv.21257

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Weill Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

  2. 2

    Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Weill Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

  1. †

    Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.

*Liver Center, Lowry Medical Building Room 7-A055, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02215.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 AUG 2008
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 MAY 2008

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Keywords:

  • sustained virological response;
  • hepatitis C virus;
  • immunity

Abstract

Sustained virological response SVR is defined as undetectable HCV RNA in plasma 6 months after therapy has been discontinued. Relapse or re-emergence of viremia after SVR is rare. We report two patients that relapsed when immune suppressive therapy was given within a few weeks of achieving SVR. Patient 1 received prednisone for bronchitis and patient 2 relapsed soon after immune suppression was started post renal transplantation. These data suggest that the early phase of SVR might be associated with incomplete protective immunity. They suggest that sterilizing immunity with complete elimination of virus is unlikely. The cases also caution against the use of immune suppressive therapy in the immediate aftermath of SVR. J. Med. Virol. 80:1720–1722, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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