Article

HCV-positive status and hepatitis flares in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with rituximab-containing regimens.

Digestive and Liver Disease Dpt, Azienda Ospedaliera S Andrea, Via Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
Digestive and Liver Disease (impact factor: 3.05). 02/2011; 43(2):139-42. DOI:10.1016/j.dld.2010.05.010 pp.139-42
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Rituximab has provided a revolutionary contribution to the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been described in B-cell NHL patients. Cases of liver dysfunction in HCV-positive patients have been reported with rituximab-containing regimens.
to evaluate the liver-related effects of rituximab-containing regimens on HCV-positive CD20-positive B-cell NHL patients.
Retrospective analysis of 104 consecutive patients. HCV status was determined, and development of hepatitis flares analysed.
Nine patients (8.6%) were HCV-positive. No correlation was shown between viral load and alanine transaminase levels. Three of the 9 HCV-positive, and none of the 95 HCV-negative developed hepatitis flares (p<0.001). At the 12-month follow-up hepatitis flare patients were alive and in remission for their haematological disease and no hepatitis flares, liver-related death had developed.
HCV-positive status may represent a risk factor for the development of hepatic flares in B-cell NHL patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens. Despite the increase in liver function tests, there were no major clinical events.

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Keywords

104 consecutive patients
 
12-month follow-up hepatitis flare patients
 
9 HCV-positive
 
95 HCV-negative
 
alanine transaminase levels
 
B-cell NHL patients
 
B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
 
HCV-positive CD20-positive B-cell NHL patients
 
HCV-positive patients
 
HCV-positive status
 
hepatic flares
 
hepatitis C virus
 
hepatitis flares
 
hepatitis flares analysed
 
liver function tests
 
liver-related death
 
liver-related effects
 
major clinical events
 
Retrospective analysis
 
revolutionary contribution