REACTIVATION OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY

A patient with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) and chronic hepa titis C virus (HCV) infection for 11 years was given immunosuppressive treatment because of an activation of his ITP. After 6 weeks of treat ment with cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A and cortisone the patient de cided not to continue taking his medication. One month later he was re admitted to hospital due to fever, cough and jaundice. Clinical invest igation revealed his condition to be caused by an activation of his HC V infection. It is concluded that, in parallel to the situation in hep atitis B, immunosuppressive treatment of patients with HCV infection m ay lead to increased viral replication, resulting in severe liver dama ge when immunocompetence is regained.