HEPATITIS-C VIRUS ACUTE EXACERBATION DURING CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR ESOPHAGEAL-CARCINOMA

Aims: We report the first case of an hepatitis C virus positive patien t presenting with a solid tumor and developing an exacerbation of his hepatitis C after chemotherapy. Case report: A 56-year-old white male, previously infected with hepatitis C virus and treated for epidermoid carcinoma of the oesophagus, developed hepatitis (alamine aminotransf erase 2376 U/l and aspartate aminotransferase 2262 U/l) after chemothe rapy with cisplatin and vinblastine. Methods: Polymerase chain reactio n detected hepatitis C virus RNA in the serum during the acute phase, which returned to negative 14 weeks later. Discussion: Viral replicati on was probably increased during immunosuppression induced by chemothe rapy. Enhanced cellular immune response in the recovery phase was the most likely cause of the hepatitis. Conclusions: More attention should be paid to liver function tests in patients with a previous history o f hepatitis C virus infection. Polymerase chain reaction identificatio n of hepatitis C virus RNA can be a very useful tool that permits rapi d diagnosis and appropriate management of such cases.