Dewkoemar Ramsoekh
,Herold J. Metselaar
enRobert A. de Man
A 55-years old female was treated with prednisone because of a peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Three months after she was admitted because of a suspicion of cholecystitis. During the course of admission she developed disturbances of her liver function. Additional analysis revealed a hepatitis B infection. However, her liver function deteriorated rapidly. She was placed on the high urgency list for liver transplantation which was successfully performed within 24 hours. A 71-year old male was being treated with prednisone for a polymyalgia rheumatica. A few weeks after he again presented himself with general malaise an weight loss. Laboratory results showed elevated liver function tests, and additional viral serology showed a hepatitis B infection. Promptly, antiviral therapy was started but the liver function further deteriorated and he developed an acute liver failure. Liver transplantation was contra indicated because of the patients’ age. Despite maximum supportive care, the patient deceased two weeks within admission. Reactivation of chronic hepatitis B infection during corticosteroid therapy is a well known phenomena, which can result in acute liver failure. Reactivation is due to a suppression of the immune system with an increase in viral HBV DNA replication. Reactivation can be treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues such as Lamuvidine, Entecavir and Tenofovir. The current guidelines advise to test all patients for hepatitis b infection before initiating immunosuppressive therapy. In case of a hepatitis B infected patient, preventive antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogues should be started.
This supplementary information is presented as submitted by the corresponding author. It has not been copy-edited by NTvG.
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Reacties
Screening op hepatitis B
Reactivatie van hepatitis B (antwoord auteur)
De 2 casussen hadden een hoge virale load en in het laboratoriumonderzoek waren er duidelijk gestoorde leverfunctie testen met verhoogde transaminasen. De kans op een fout positieve uitslag in deze casussen was, ook mede gezien het klinisch beeld, nihil.
Screenen op hepatitis B